Patrick M. Lencioni authored the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable. It is an engaging story of some of the traps teams fall into as they endeavor to work together. The principles really are applicable in many contexts.
I am not going to get into all the book has to offer, but one of the quotes in the book stands out. "Politics is when people choose their words and actions based on how they want others to react rather than based on what they really think."
The downfall of using political language or withholding the real facts is that we may be setting people we care about up for future failure. I have done this and regretted it later in that I have robbed people of the opportunity to grow, or in some cases allowed a situation to get worse or out of control. The temptation to be kind may actually cause more damage.
Then there are times when my own frankness or honesty has created its own damage. Or it may hinder us from really hearing the other persons point of view. There are times when we need to just shut up, listen and learn.
In all of this I have to admit this is a daily learning and growing thing for me. I have deeply regretted the mistakes I have made on both sides of this issue. It is a daily challenge to find the balance and to do well in this. How about you, what are the secrets of your success?
1 comment:
This was my first read last year... every church staff should go through this book together... it's funny, enlightening, and an enjoyable read that provokes a lot of discussion... get to it leaders!
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