Travel With A Pilgrim

Recently I was invited to participate in a training program at my Church regarding how to help and properly respond to someone who asks or reveals that they need help.  A section within the training discussed “The response of a pilgrim versus the response of an expert.”  The premise being a Pilgrim by definition will journey with you to help whereas an expert is quick to tell you what you need to do and move on.  While there are appropriate places for an expert opinion, I find that in life and business, quick expert advice is often shallow and impractical.  Not because the provider lacked intelligence, rather the problems of life and business require far more insight into their depth and breadth to truly bring about sustainable and desired change.  Let’s look at this a little further.       

 During a recent client meeting and just after the “Hello!” and “How have you been?”, I listened to a long list of “you will not believe what happened”, “we had these series of recurring problems”, “the employee challenges seem to never stop” and this list of topics continued.  Without interruption, I listened in curiosity as to how this would end.  After about 10 minutes, I think my client began to realize that I had not said anything.  The stories abruptly came to a stop in the middle of my client’s description of another perceived issue with the statement “sorry to ramble about all of this, where should we start today?”

 Enter the trusted advisor….the Pilgrim who will come alongside you and walk or run if necessary to help you find or stay on safe passage.  The Pilgrim is easy to spot because they frequently use “we” versus “you” as they climb into the foxhole with you.  This is a question we ask ourselves in the military, who can I trust to be in the foxhole with me if all hell breaks loose?  Contrast this with the expert, they are easy to hear. They are quick to provide all types of solutions and opinions as to how and why this is happening to you as they look down on you in your foxhole.  You are also likely to hear all about what is going to happen if you do not fix the problem immediately as they perceive the enemy advancing on your position.  Once an expert has taught you everything THEY think you need to know………. exit stage right. 

 Think of your business and challenges you are facing.  Who do you seek outside wise counsel from?  Are you surrounded my Pilgrims or Experts?  The answer to this question can radically improve your business and life’s relationships. 

 At Meridian, our mission is “To serve as the trusted advisor, business turnaround executive, business coach and trainer.”  We focus on businesses in distress while coming alongside their stakeholders by providing a comprehensive business assessment, recommendations, implementation support and on-going advisory services that will equip stakeholders, leadership and employees to measurably, effectively and intentionally accomplish the business objectives.  Call today for a free consultation (731) 300-1304.  There is wisdom when traveling with a Pilgrim.

Are you setting yourself up for a tragic failure?

 

During my active duty service in the United States Army, I learned one of the most valuable leadership lessons of life and business.  The lesson came while serving with the First Infantry Division (Big Red 1) located at Fort Riley, Kansas, during Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Class (BNOC). 

 The third week of training was a week spent in the field.  During that week I was selected to be the Battalion Commander over several hundred soldiers.  Our first day began around 4:00 a.m. and we did not reach our objective until approximately midnight.  The day of walking in combat gear was exhausting as we crossed all types of terrain and dealt with probing attacks from the enemy along our route.  Upon arrival at our objective, the company platoon leaders began to set up a perimeter for guard duty.  I was meeting with the company commanders at the edge of tree line to discuss guard duty locations, shifts and the next day’s mission.  We were all absolutely exhausted as we entered our third week of training.  During our planning conversation, I felt the overwhelming need to lead by example and share the burden of the night, so I told my company commanders that I would take the first shift of guard duty for them so they could get some rest.  No one objected.

As we departed, a training officer (the training officer followed us everywhere evaluating our performance) pulled me aside and quietly asked me “why are you willing to kill everyone to make yourself feel better?”  Wow!  Now I was exhausted AND shocked, and felt the weight of what my gut told me I was about to learn.  The training officer explained to me that I should never be on guard duty or perform any other like duties.  I needed to make sure that I received as much rest as battlefield circumstances would allow because the decisions I make as a leader will either 1) save lives or 2) get everyone killed.  An exhausted and distracted leader is a very dangerous leader.

Replay this scenario in your business or family life and you will find that it directly applies.  Are you working on tasks that should be delegated to other employees or left alone completely?  Are you avoiding or neglecting the duties of your position because your feelings about delegating are getting in the way?  Are there traces of guilt in your thoughts when you know the task you are assigning will be extremely difficult or negatively impact the person receiving it?  If any of these are true, you are on, or near, a very dangerous path.  Depending on your leadership position, you are duty bound to fulfill your responsibilities while delegating to others and holding everyone accountable.  Failures in this area of leadership can take profitable companies with great products and people straight into a ditch that you may not make it out of without great financial loss and employee pain. 

Take time today to think about what you’re working on, and ask the question, “Will this project or task meaningfully impact the profitability of the company or reduce expenses?”  If the answer is “no”, do not be afraid when your mind starts saying “What if I don’t do it?”  You have already answered that question by identifying the task is not meaningful.  Many companies I visit could rapidly improve if they would stop playing around with meaningless tasks.  All too often men and women in leadership positions are mindlessly completing day to day tasks that make them feel like they had a productive day.  In reality, they leave from work after a sprint on the meaningless treadmill of tasks, leaving exhausted, and not advancing the company agenda even one inch.  Learn how to say “no” to places you should not be and “yes” to meaningful work, then watch the results come in and see others’ respect for you soar.

Copyright 2013 Meridian Performance Group, LLC