Have you learned a valuable principle about your leadership?
The way others expect you to respond often determines the way they respond to you.
- If they expect you to respond in anger…they’ll dance around an issue, afraid to confront…
- If they expect you to respond defensively…they’ll only bring you the proven answers…refusing to take risks…
- If they expect you to respond with condemnation…they’ll be tempted to only share part of the story…maybe none at all…
- If they expect you to respond negatively…they’ll hold back some of their best ideas…afraid you’ll crush them…
However…
- If they expect you to respond with understanding…they’ll be more likely to offer their opinions…
- If they expect you to respond with in a supportive way…they’ll be more likely to share their dreams…
- If they expect you to respond with an open mind…they’ll be more likely to brainstorm with you rather than without you…
- If they expect you to respond with grace…they’ll be more likely to share the good, the bad and the ugly…
Leaders, how do others expect you to respond?
Fair or not…as a leader, the response others expect from you may help determine the way others respond to you. More importantly, however, is that ultimately that response helps determine the health of the team or organization.
Help this post out…share your experiences. Do you tend to alter your response based on how you expect others to respond? Is this true in family and friend relationships also?
