Leading high-performance people |

Leading high-performance people

Published by yojules April 15th, 2008 in General, Jules Muses

I am walking a little shell-shocked today, after what has felt like a very hectic week of managing people challenges. I can’t really descibe the circumstances, as so many of them are linked to personal and confidential stories, but I have to confess to feeling quite wobbly about it all.

My coach and I were examining how easily I step into the ’soul’ space with everybody, absorb their pain, and excuse their behaviour or performance because I understand the underlying reasons for it. I tend to let people off the hook, and don’t demand the high standards of performance from them that I expect from myself. The impact that it has on me is that I end up rowing much harder in the boat, and putting my own emotional and physical health at risk. Which, in turn, puts us all at risk. So just as I think I’m really rescueing a situation, I fail to see the bigger picture of the bigger impact.

And at the same time I’m writing a proposal with Vanessa and Clint for a company that has exactly the opposite problem: a pile full of managers who have the output and task thing waxed, and very little emotional connection.

I suppose their leaders and I have a lot to learn from each other. They’ll need to learn how to listen up, care, and engage with their staff on a much more personal level, and I’ll be needing to learn to keep my people more goal-oriented, outputs-driven, and focussed on delivering their best work.

Sigh…….. Management is a hard thing to learn, no matter what mountain you’re sitting on……

6 Responses to “Leading high-performance people”

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1 Vanessa Apr 15th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

And one of the best things a manager or leader can do, is to remain CONSCIOUS of all of the above. Hats off to you!
2 jen cook Apr 16th, 2008 at 11:17 am

Jules, if there is one thing we are certain of is your commitment! Everything one does has options on how we do it. These ways of doing are always polar opposites. What is difficult, is knowing which polarity to use. The very fact you are aware of the polarities makes you a good leader. The very fact you seek advice makes you a good manager. The very fact that you admit to a wobble or two makes you a good person. I would rather you wobbled a bit and sought our support emotionally than if you were disconnected and therefore failing as a leader, manager and person. LOTS of love jen
3 Sandi Apr 17th, 2008 at 11:25 am

Jules

Management is really tricky when you are doing something that takes risk. People are a risky business. The other day when we were on one of our little car trips you said something that made an impression on me. It went something like “I write all these articles on management and at the same time I am trying out all the things I talk about”. I have not been here a long time, but what I see is authenticity. You walk the talk. Yes, you are conscious and that is one big step in the right direction. You have nuture and grow people in AVO, not sure where this thought is going but we all need to take responsibility for that growth. How to get people to do that is another tricky part of leadership? The answers are there, take your time it will come, don’t forget where you come from, the wobbles will turn into triumphs! we stand with you!
4 Caren Apr 23rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm

Jules-angel you have created this awesome company of powerful women, so it stands to reason that when faced with mirrors mostly they will be female. This represents how your feminine side treats your spirit - be gentle on you love.
From a practical, management point of view… yes you should absolutely expect that everyone’s output tracks with yours - and you so know when you need to be the tough boss-chick or when a little leeway is required. Shooting from the hip and blatant honesty does have a place.
Love yourself a little see!
The Old Tart
5 Jade Orgill May 13th, 2008 at 6:10 pm

I think I know this company you speak of (no names mentioned), I work for this company and understand what you describe. I would just like to say, isn’t it wonderful how the universe puts these people in your path to learn from? You are in such a powerful place, I glad you see that! This understanding is a part of “understanding the bigger picture” without a doubt! I love Avo Vision!
6 yojules May 14th, 2008 at 11:02 am

Bless you Jade: once we all have the task thing cracked, then how we manage the people stuff becomes the the challenge that exhausts…. but we keep learning every day, from the teachers the universe brings….

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