Leading by Example

BIG RISK

As I was figuring out how I wanted to start this blog, I decided to see if I could find a definition of “all in”. Guess what - Cambridge has one:

A way that shows a lot of determination and a willingness to take a big risk in order to achieve something.

It’s interesting that the words “big risk” are included in the definition. Many people don’t live in a way that is all in perhaps because they see it as risky.

After living “all in” for a majority of my career, I can tell you the benefits far outweigh the risks. As leaders, we actually take a larger risk by not living all in. Whether this is at work, or leading your kids team or a group of volunteers, your team takes their cues from you. If you live half in, your teams will match that at best.

Risk-taking is scary.

Teams don’t want to fail. They need a reason to take a risk like a big prize or accomplishment on the other side of that risk. Many times my teams have gone after a big risky thing because they didn’t want to see me fail.

The more committed you are to reaching the accomplishment, the more likely others will stop watching and start working. As more of the team becomes all in, others too will join. Just like a snowball rolling downhill, the team will gain momentum. At some point along the journey, the thing that once seemed risky will now look safe; you just needed to put in the effort.

DETERMINATION

Determination is another word I see in the definition. To me this is the never-give-up attitude.

As leaders, it is our job to encourage our teams, especially when it gets difficult.

I am an endurance race car driver. Many things happen over the course of an 8 hour race. Though we typically are not the fastest car over one lap, we have a shot at winning if we do everything to the best of our ability.

Recently, we were racing and having a sucky day. I spent much of my day encouraging my teammates. With each passing hour, someone different was ready to give up. In the end, no one did. While it was a long day, the team became closer and relied on one another. We know each of us won’t quit and we’re all in - not just for the race, but for the future. That strengthens the entire team.

WILLINGNESS

Willingness is a big part. Are you willing to do what is needed? Will you put your team or yourself first?

As leaders, if we are not willing to do whatever is needed, how can we expect that from our teams?

I have surprised many people by doing jobs that, in their minds, are beneath what someone with my title should do. I don’t see it that way. I see it more like Bigweld from the movie Robots: “See a need, fill a need”.

As a leader, you see your team's needs from a different perspective. You likely are seeing needs no one else is seeing.

For example, I saw how inefficient my team was in their day-to-day tasks and I could improve their efficiency by cleaning the lab. I could have asked someone else to do it, but because I could see the problem, I was best suited to solve the issue while not slowing my team down on their current task. My team saw me cleaning the lab and then started seeing what they could do for each other.

Being all in is contagious.

The next time you wonder why your team isn't determined, willing, or risk takers, look at how you are leading them.

Are you overly critical when failures occur or do you help find the next solution? Are you hesitant to take the challenge in front of you? Are you the one always pointing out why something won’t work? Are you the one who is never around when a menial task needs to be completed?

So let’s be willing to be all in. Let’s not just sit back and watch our teams try, but lead the way and take the risk first. Be the leader who is willing to take the risk and when things fail, be determined to find a way!

When our teams see us as willing and determined to accomplish that risky goal, they too will be living all in.

By Dennis Neel - Executive, Fortune 500 Company

Dennis is a strategic leader in the engineering world as well as a co-founder of Speak with People. In his free time, he loves to race cars and spend time with his family.