What-the-Hell Effect

 Momentum matters and it goes both ways. When you’re on a streak, you’ll fight hard not to break it. But when you falter, it’s all too easy to get caught in a negative momentum cycle psychologists refer to as the “What-the-Hell Effect.” This phenomenon describes the downward spiral that can happen when we allow our initial misstep to justify next, and so on. Well-documented for diets and binge eating, it also shows up anywhere you need willpower. Positive momentum with exercise, budgeting, sobriety, and lead generation can all get derailed when we double down on our mistakes.

The good news is that a single stumble doesn’t measurably impact habit formation. Life happens. We recover and continue forward. When researchers asked 96 volunteers to track their habit-building, many missed a day. But a solitary slip up didn’t seem to matter if they got back on the proverbial horse. It was only when they repeated the mistake that they failed.

Here’s the moral: Don’t give up when you slip up.

Most of your success will come from daily deposits toward your success. You follow the diet. You lace your shoes and go for a run. You avoid splurging at Target. You dutifully connect with your database. The days you do it blur unremarkably. But it’s not so much the good days that make the difference. It’s how we handle the bad days that matters.

The Player-Coach Dilemma

 “Nothing so conclusively proves a man's ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.”

– Thomas J. Watson

The Player-Coach Dilemma

Back when sports didn’t have TV contracts, player-coaches were a bit more common. Baseball hall-of-famers like Ty Cobb and Frank Robinson played the game while coaching. NFL great Tom Landry played defensive back while serving as defensive coordinator for the NY Giants. Perhaps the best player-coach of all time was Bill Russell. Russell won nine NBA championships for the Boston Celtics as a player before winning two more as a player-coach. He is one of five enshrined in the NBA Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach.

When head coach Red Auerbach stepped down after eight straight championships in 1966, the Celtics struggled to hire a replacement. Despite the opportunity to step into a championship franchise, multiple coaches declined. Auerbach eventually approached Russell to coach. His initial response was “no,” before reconsidering. Russell had to answer one question before agreeing, “Can I coach Bill Russell?” More on that later.

Today, player-coaches are as rare as rain in the Atacama Desert. That’s hardly the case in business. Owner-operators abound in business. Great operators often take the leap to entrepreneurship. The challenge comes when they move from being a solo practitioner to leading others. They must balance the focus and skill they bring to their profession with leading others. And as this recent episode of the Empire Building Podcast illustrates (Apple/Spotify), it’s about as easy as running up the inside of a spiral staircase.

In the episode, Sarah Reynolds and her co-hosts share five rules for succeeding as a player-coach:

1. Create goals and define activities for each aspect of your role.
2. Timeblock your priorities!
3. Set expectations with clients and team members.
4. Avoid energy vampires.
5. Make your health and family a priority.

I would venture to add a sixth. Remember what Bill Russell asked himself before taking the job? Could he lead himself? The dilemma of the player-coach is they must coach themselves. The owner-operator faces the same quandary. All leadership begins with self-leadership.

We must hold ourselves to the same standards we expect from our team. Our failures will be public failures. We must strike a balance between friendship and accountability. Our time is no longer just ours. We have an obligation to make time for the team. Our prowess at our jobs made ownership a possibility, but, for most, these are all new skills to master on the journey.

One question to ponder in your thinking time: To lead others, will I commit to leading myself?

Make an Impact!

The 3 L's of Leadership

 The journey of leadership is akin to learning the alphabet through continuous repetition. Just as we internalized the ABCs by looking at letters and listening to their sounds, effective leadership requires the ability to Look, Listen, and Learn. These three L's serve as foundational principles for leaders seeking to enhance their effectiveness and create a positive impact within their teams and organizations.

LOOK: OBSERVING AND IMPROVING

A leader must be observant, paying attention to how others perform their tasks and treat various stakeholders. By closely observing interactions with customers, direct reports, superiors, and colleagues, leaders gain insights into areas for improvement. It is particularly important to focus on how individuals with lower pay grades or new employees are treated, as this reflects the organizational culture's inclusivity and fairness. Leaders should continually seek better ways to improve themselves, enhance organizational efficiency, and foster communication and employee morale. Evaluating whether the company's vision and values are practiced allows leaders to identify their own role in improving the organization. Additionally, leaders should learn from those in higher positions, extracting valuable tools from their leadership toolbox while avoiding negative habits or characteristics. Recognizing and praising team members who exhibit leadership qualities further reinforces a positive work environment and sets an example for others.

LISTEN: ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK

Active listening is a fundamental skill for effective leadership. Leaders should approach listening with passion, energy, and a genuine desire to understand others. Active listening involves focusing attention on the speaker and refraining from distractions like using electronic devices or shuffling papers. By actively listening, leaders gain insights to improve their own vocabulary, refine processes, and shape a positive work culture. Leaders should encourage open dialogue by creating an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their opinions and concerns. Paying attention to keywords that demonstrate action and leadership helps identify areas for growth. Emphasizing collective pronouns like "us," "we," and "our" fosters a sense of camaraderie rather than self-serving behavior. Seeking feedback from critics and demonstrating humility allows leaders to continuously learn and improve. Engaging with direct reports, superiors, and customers through thoughtful questions demonstrates a commitment to growth and listening to diverse perspectives.

LEARN: CONTINUOUS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Leadership is an ongoing journey of learning and development. Effective leaders recognize the power of consistent praise and expressing gratitude. By praising individuals, particularly those who undertake challenging or undesirable tasks, leaders instill a sense of value and appreciation. Learning is a continual process that requires repetition and striving for improvement. Leaders should create opportunities for sharing "lessons learned" sessions, whether in the aftermath of project successes or failures. Encouraging a culture that values learning, growth, and exploration fosters innovation and adaptability. Collaboration with others, including competitors, allows leaders to expand their perspectives and learn from diverse experiences. Developing skills in conflict management and resolution empowers leaders to create a harmonious work environment. Building networks based on trust, loyalty, and treating others with dignity and respect strengthens relationships and opens doors for collaboration.

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Incorporating the 3 L's of Leadership—Look, Listen, and Learn—into our leadership approach can significantly enhance our effectiveness. By observing and improving ourselves, actively engaging in listening and seeking feedback, and embracing continuous growth and development, we become more effective leaders in the eyes of those we serve. Applying these principles consistently throughout our leadership journey enables us to navigate challenges, foster collaboration, and create positive work environments. Let us remember that leadership is a continuous process, and through the application of the 3 L's, we can become catalysts for growth and success.