Does your company have a “complaint department?” Most do. Someone with a door that’s always open, a sympathetic ear and the promise of keeping things “between us.” In many organizations, these people seem to serve a valuable purpose—or at least do no real harm.
George Perles, assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972 to 1982, delivered a powerful message years ago. He shared a mantra from their heyday in the 1970s: “We made every decision like we were going to the Super Bowl.” Their organization made these decisions long before they reached their goal—and they ended up winning the Super Bowl four times.
If resolving business problems is making your leadership team discouraged, you’re not alone. Some of my entrepreneurial leadership teams hit an emotional wall after their first year of implementing EOS—especially if they need to resolve many large organizational issues in the company. Even when they make significant progress in the first year, they still feel unsatisfied and a bit discouraged. Why?
On a recent Saturday, my wife Trina and I along with a good friend and client went for a hike deep into the backcountry of the Cascade Mountain range. The hike (climb/scramble) consisted of 9 miles round trip with a total of nearly 2,900′ of ascent. We found yet another absolutely amazing piece of God’s creation.
We all have issues. A shocking confession, I know! By definition, an issue is an important topic for debate or discussion. Consequently, issues aren’t just problems to be solved, threats to be thwarted, or obstacles to overcome, but they include opportunities to be grasped and challenges to be embraced.
Some of the best meetings that I’ve been in lately are the ones where members of the leadership team challenge each other. There’s debate and pushback and the discussions are heated. Each person is actively engaged putting the greater good of the organization ahead of personal agendas. Sometimes the feedback they give each other stings a little. But, when the dust settles there’s clarity around the root cause. Conflict creates clarity.
