It has been a wild week in Arizona, and as I make my way back to Montana, I find
solace in the thought of seeing my granddaughters soon and spending some quality
time with my boys. As I ponder this, I also reflect on where they all are in life, what
they have become, how they handle things, who is leading them, and who they are
leading. Trust me, your children and grandchildren can be your leaders at times.
As parents, we face the most significant leadership challenge; we get what we deserve
as leaders. This crazy week has led me to reflect deeply on this point. When you are a
leader, you cannot delegate or abdicate specific responsibilities. Most importantly, you
can never let anyone else set the standards, enforce policies, and direction among
those you lead or are responsible for.
Consider a hypothetical scenario: you run an organization with a policy that mandates
annual training renewal in a critical area. Failure to complete this training results in
removal from the payroll until it is done and continued failure leads to termination.
Eighty-five to ninety percent of your people adhere to this policy, some even using
personal time to ensure they comply. They don’t want to be taken off the payroll.
However, they are also watching. When the deadline arrives, give the remaining ten to
fifteen percent extra time or let them complete it on the clock. By doing this, you have
just reset the standard. You have lost the trust of the eighty-five to ninety percent to
accommodate the others.
We get what we tolerate. If you accept window bashing and stealing, expect your
windows to be bashed in, too. Expect everyone to deviate if you accept deviations from
the law, policy, or directive without consequence. If you accept chaos, then you should
expect chaos. Odds are, if there is something among your team that you dislike or
continually address, the informal acceptance of that issue is already in place and was
created long before the problem became apparent. “It is no big deal” is not acceptable.
If it is a big deal, you must treat it as such. Hold the line, have courage, respect your
team, and respect yourself.
Look around your home, work, communities, and nation. What is happening? What
don’t you like? What do you see as unacceptable? Did we get here because we moved
the bar or the standard? If so, how many times have we moved it? If you don’t hold to
a standard, you should expect deviation and chaos in most instances. People want their
leaders to be strong and supportive and to fight for them. They want their leader to be
their advocate and guide. They need courage and consistency that gives them faith in
who they are and what they stand for. So be courageous and get what you deserve.
Reflecting on my experiences this week, I realize the importance of maintaining
standards and enforcing policies with unwavering consistency. It is not just about
following rules but about setting a precedent and creating an environment of trust and
accountability. When leaders allow deviations without consequence, they undermine
their authority and the stability of their organization.
In leadership, small compromises can lead to significant consequences. Each time we
raise the bar, we signal to our team that standards are flexible and expectations can be
negotiated. This creates a culture where rules are not taken seriously and accountability
is diminished.
Leadership is more than just managing people; it’s about inspiring them to be their best
selves. It’s about creating an environment where everyone knows what is expected and
understands that deviations are unacceptable. This is not about being inflexible or
unyielding; it’s about being consistent and fair.
As I prepare to reunite with my family, I am reminded of the importance of these
lessons. Just as I am a leader in my professional life, I am also a leader in my personal
life. The standards I set for myself and my family are equally important. Holding firm to
these standards teaches my children and grandchildren the value of integrity,
responsibility, and courage.
Leaders genuinely get what they deserve or, better yet, what they create. Setting high
standards and holding to them creates environments of trust, accountability, and
excellence. Let’s be the leaders our teams, families, and communities need. Let’s set
the bar high and never waver. In doing so, we will get what we deserve: respect,
loyalty, and success.