The year was 1628, and the Swedish Warship Vasa was to make her maiden voyage to join the other Swedish warships in the Thirty Years’ War. An incredible 64-gun warship, the Vasa was larger than just about anything else found on the waters of Scandinavia in the seventeenth century.
You don’t have to be a golf fan to appreciate the leadership lessons demonstrated by Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker at the 2021 Ryder Cup golf championship. A few weeks ago, I wrote an article asking if you are FOR the people on your team or wanted something FROM the people on your team.
Almost everyone I speak with tells me of the success they have had in these trying times. Business is up, and sales are brisk, money is coming in. By all indications, we are very successful. As many look to the future, they are asking, “what’s next?” Is success enough? What if you could move past success and do something significant?
There are many reasons that leaders don’t want people on their teams making decisions, and most of those reasons center around the feeling of losing control if you share control. I think it is important to remember that you, the leader, are ultimately accountable for the decisions made on your team.
When I ask leaders what they think the job of a leader is, they often answer that their motivation is to motivate. When I ask why they don’t just hire motivated people, they are unsure what to say. My point: Can you motivate someone else?
The college sports team I cheer for had just completed another impressive win. The head coach was being interviewed and asked the reporter to assess the win and the team’s future.
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