–Below is a leadership bullet from Tom’s rifle named Shot
IF YOU DON’T SUCCEED, ACT PERTURBED. Well, that’s was how one of my bad marksmen behaved. He put on quite a show of remorse, as if that excused him. It didn’t, of course, but it made him feel better and—get this—made him more likely to fail next time. Yep, subconsciously he came to rely on his act.
Leaders, this formula is all too common: DR = 0DR + (E or B). Read that as Desired Results = Zero Desired Results plus Excuses or Blame. One “excuse” is a big show of remorse—as, “I’m really sorry,” or “I truly regret that happened.” Such expressions may be accompanied by a fit of anger, crying, or another physical display. Here’s the deal: The one who fails to deliver the desired results feels exonerated and hopes the expectant party is somehow satisfied. Maybe he or she is. Unfortunately, the person showing remorse will likely fail again and again, thinking all will be fine with the big show. This may not be a conscious thought, but one that controls nonetheless. Of course, even the best ones fail from time to time, but they accept defeat, reflect on it, and prepare for another “trip to the plate.” They own the results, and they usually deliver.