Minute With Mallon: Trying to Be Liked?
Welcome to Minute with Mallon!
Something I Taught:
One of the most important things a leader can learn is how to delegate effectively.
And almost every leader I work with struggles with delegation to some degree.
But when you learn a simple process and follow it consistently, the benefits are tremendous.
Among other things:
• You become a much more effective leader.
• You have more time for what matters most.
• It becomes one of the best training opportunities for your team.
• When done well, it actually increases morale.
• And you personally get more work done in less time.
I was working with a business owner recently, teaching him the five basic steps to delegate effectively.
One of those steps is to inspect the work you've delegated and make sure it's being done to the standard you expect.
That's where many leaders struggle.
They're willing to hand work off, but they're reluctant to hold people accountable. Deep down, they're afraid that if they push too hard, people won't like them.
So I told him that leadership is like walking on a balance beam. 🤸
Picture a gymnast making her way across the beam, one careful step at a time.
If you lean too far in one direction, your primary goal becomes being liked.
If you lean too far in the other direction, your primary goal becomes earning respect.
Many leaders lean too far toward being liked.
Now, there's nothing wrong with being liked. But that's not your primary responsibility as a leader.
Your responsibility is to help your team produce excellent work.
And that means setting clear expectations and holding people accountable to them.
Here's what many leaders get backward.
They think, "If my employees like me, they'll respect me."
But leadership usually works the other way around.
When people know you'll consistently hold them to a high standard, and you'll support them as they grow, they begin to respect you.
And respect is often what leads to genuine trust… and eventually, being liked.
The best leaders don't choose between being liked and being respected.
They choose respect first.
And being liked usually follows.
So think about this:
Where are you leaning too far toward being liked instead of earning respect from the people around you?
What's one conversation you've been avoiding because you're afraid it might make someone unhappy?
Pull the Band-Aid off. Do it today or tomorrow!
Something to Ponder:
“In a world that’s changing so quickly, the biggest risk you could ever take is not taking any risk.”
Mark Zuckerberg
Something I Learned:
I was reading John Maxwell's book Intentional Living recently, and one paragraph really challenged me.
"When we get up every day, we have one of two mindsets. As you start your day, are you wondering what you will reap, or are you wondering what you will sow? Are you waiting for others to do something for you, or are you busy looking for something to do for others?"
"When we get up every day, we have one of two mindsets. As you start your day, are you wondering what you will reap, or are you wondering what you will sow? Are you waiting for others to do something for you, or are you busy looking for something to do for others?"
That paragraph caused me to stop and ask myself one simple question:
When I wake up in the morning, am I thinking about what I can get or what I can give?
That one question changes everything.
Instead of wondering who will encourage me, I look for someone to encourage.
Instead of asking, "What's in this day for me?" I ask, "Who can I make this day better for?"
I've found that the happiest people I know aren't keeping score of what they're receiving. They're too busy serving, encouraging, helping, and listening to others.
The interesting thing is that the people who focus on sowing often end up reaping more than they ever imagined.
Tomorrow morning, before your feet hit the floor, ask yourself one question:
"What can I sow into someone else's life today?"
It just might change someone else's day. And yours too!
Something I Saw:
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Hope you have an incredible week!
Robert
