What’s the Cost?

If it hasn’t cost you anything it’s embarrassing to ask others to pay a price

Leaders, what you ask of others you better have thought through the underlying ask it really is making of your team.

When you make big, heavy, taxing asks of your team or organization how are you modeling your involvement in the same ask.  Teams dislike being patronized so stay aware from that. As the leader you do not have to play the martyr either. You do have to lead and often leaders need to own more than they ask others to own. 

When you make heavy asks of your team, have a few things in mind.

• How can I make this ask without it demeaning or belittling those around me?

• What is the end purpose of the ask I am making?  When will relief from from this ask that moves the vision forward?

• For those employees that are incentive driven, how can I honor their motivation?

• For those employees that are achievement driven, how can I honor their motivation?

• What feedback loop needs to be reinforced so that we can stay tight knit and not fragment from these asks?

Make sure the cost you ask of the organization is asked of everyone in the organization.