Defining Reality

“The sausage should be hot, spicy and juicy when served.”

–     Captain James C. Briggs, US Army, Vanderbilt University and a great “lieutenant” for me a couple years back

Cap’n Briggs weighed in on yesterday’s post (“a leader’s first job is defining reality…”) with some very good, Briggs-like input on continuing the theme to defining defining reality.  Yes.  I did mean to type the word “defining” twice.  It’s my blog.  I write like I speak.  Sue me.  Oh, back to Cap’n Briggs…  He makes a great point.  Real leaders define the reality of the outcome and leave qualified folks to determine the methods, etc.

Managers tell people what to do, and then they micromanage the crap out of how they do it.  Kill.  Me.  Now.  They ask for sausage and then bitch about how much chorizo we put in the recipe, and whether we get links or patties.

Leaders paint a picture of what “it” should look like, feel like, be like and when it should look, feel and be — and then they trust their team to create it.  Leaders say, “Man, some hot, juicy, spicy sausage would sure be good with my eggs in the morning,” and then they go night-night and let the kitchen crew whip up some spicy, hot, juicy goodness.

Jim Briggs is a leader.  So, too, are we, when we follow the advice of the last two DailyDiffs!