leader Archives - The Future Mindset

An Environment Of Fear

Every leader’s dream is to create a winning environment. On the other hand. Having an environment based on fear is one of the most uncomfortable places you can be. In the short term, you might get a spike in results but over the long term, you will see your business suffer. Having targets is great but being ridiculed for not hitting them is not. Making mistakes while your learning is normal but being shouted at inappropriately goes too far. In the end, the people who work within the company will start to resent what they do and the best people will soon leave.

This approach is indicative of an industrial tyrant approach of getting the best out of people. We know through studies and our own experiences that this approach does not work. It stifles all creativity and it stops everyone from working to their full potential because somewhere in their mind they’re fearful.

Fear is a powerful tool that many in leadership positions have used to benefit their agenda but the effect it has on the mind can be damaging similar to having an abusive parent or partner. They make you feel that you’re the problem and that you need them more than they need you. This environment should be avoided at all costs.

An Environment Of A Zone Of Safety

The opposite to an environment of fear is an environment of safety where you can make mistakes, you can think freely and come up with new ideas. The leaders who lead with fear will say that this way makes weak people and a loss in production but actually, it has the opposite effect.

Creating a safe environment for people to work brings out their best. Most people want to do well, want to work hard and unlocking that part of their mind will repay you back tenfold in the long run.

You can take Google for example where they allow their team to have a slotted time to work on their own projects. This has been widely talked about and has produced Gmail and Google Earth. If google was solely run on fear to hit targets there would never have been room to create.

My Take

I have used both strategies and I can honestly say that creating an environment where others are in fear of their jobs in an environment that’s toxic, mistrusting and will always bite you in the back. You can see it readily played out with countries around the world with different leadership styles.

When I created an environment of safety. People had smiles on their faces, results steadily increased and it was easier for people to own up to their mistakes and find solutions.

The question I ask you as a leader. What legacy do you want to leave behind? To be remembered as a tyrant or remembered as something great.

3 Ways To Create A Winning Environment

Create A Winning Environment Where You Can Own Up To Your Mistakes

1. It’s OK To Make A Mistake But Make Sure You Learn From It

Creating an environment where you can own up to your mistakes is an environment that will flourish. With any type of learning or making advancements with anything. Is matched with mistakes and failure. When the environment is fearful of mistakes everyone will stay comfortable to do the minimum required. The getting by approach keeps them in a job but the business will stagnate.

The same goes for parenting too. When a child is fearful of every mistake will get them into trouble. Soon the parent will find that they will never come to them with their problems and the parent will soon lose connection with the child.

When people create an environment of fear the people creating it seem to forget that they make mistakes and fail too. Having empathy for others based on your own shortcomings will go a long way to understanding how winning environments can be created.

Now it’s all good allowing for mistakes to occur but there should also be accountability within the environment. Where everyone must learn from their mistakes as well. To take pride in finding solutions and improving as an individual.

This is where you create the best version of someone. Where they are willing to push them selfs but also learn from their shortcomings too.

2. Create A Learning Enviroment

Creating an environment of constant learning will help everyone involved. When we learn we feel alive and we are moving forward. This learning environment will create a reflection of what’s gone right and wrong but also a better understanding of what needs to be done. Creating this environment comes from being open to mentors, having up to date information and having a feedback loop to learn from mistakes made.

3. Forgive People For Their Mistakes

Holding grudges in the workplace or at home can be damaging if not solved. To create a winning environment. Being able to forgive people and see it from each others point of view is crucial. A happy workplace is a productive workplace. Any workplace where politics and resentment are allowed to grow. You will see the business start to spiral downward.

Creating an environment where we forgive people for their mistakes helps everyone move forward.

How Will This Benefit Your Leadership

For anyone in a leadership position. Creating an environment where people can make mistakes will benefit you greatly. No one wants to be led by anyone who’s always on their back for every little mistake. Whereas a leader can show empathy and become more of a guide rather than the enemy. Will get the best out of the people they’re leading.

For any leader having people actually listen to you with purpose is a great sign that your leadership style is working.

This comes from creating an environment where people can flourish. Where they’ve been praised for their efforts but are supported with their mistakes and failures.

This approach matters. When you hit this sweet spot you will see that you’ve been listened to by the people you are leading. From there the person you are leading will start to perform to their highest standard.

The famous saying goes ” People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”

PLEASE COMMENT AND SHARE YOUR STORIES

Has this helped you today? How would you create a winning environment? I would love to hear your thoughts and your experiences with dealing with a negative mindset. Always remember you are not alone and everything can change.

A Final Word From The Future Mindset

I hope you enjoyed today’s article Create A Winning Environment Where You Can Own Up To Your Mistakes.

If you want to take your mindset to the next level how about scheduling a 30-min discovery session to chat about your current status, results you want, and next steps. Don’t hesitate to contact me at adam@thefuturemindset.com

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What To Expect?

In today’s article, how the action of showing me, not telling me provides effective leadership. I will discuss how effective a leader is if they can show their, team, organisation or child how to do it rather than providing the theory of it. I hope this helps on your leadership journey.

Showing vs Telling

All of our life we are surrounded by people in leadership positions. From our parents, extended family to teachers early on in life. There’s a lot of information that gets thrown at our minds. Some stick and some don’t.

We all have different minds with a different approach to learning that makes us unique in our own way. As different humans are we are also very similar in many ways too.

When it comes to learning I have found that the approach of someone showing me how to do something is completely different to some telling me. When a teacher told me about how I should write in English. The theory was great for understanding what it means. But that did not prepare me to fully comprehend how to put it into action.

Through trial and error, you give it a go. But It takes a lot longer to learn as your just showing yourself what’s right and what’s not. Whereas when a leader shows you. Your mind can decipher the puzzle by seeing everything they do down to the tiniest detail.

What You See Is What You Get

I have many examples in my life where I see something been done that has helped me learn a lot faster than someone just telling me. It has led to quicker productivity.

In a social setting when I’m playing games and I’m stuck on a certain level. I type on google the walkthrough of the game. When I read what to do it takes a lot longer to process. Whereas a Youtube video, I can understand what to do much easier.

I have taught many people in a coaching role with a variety of different skills and when you focus just on the theory the chances of them understanding it and applying the information are slim.

Whereas when I show them how to do it repeatedly until they can do it themselves. The rate increases exponentially.

What The Science Says

There have been many studies that have shown the brain retains more information when it is shown visually.

According to Dr Lynell Burmark, an education consultant who writes and speaks about visual literacy: “…unless our words, concepts, ideas are hooked onto an image, they will go in one ear, sail through the brain, and go out the other ear. Words are processed by our short-term memory where we can only retain about seven bits of information (plus or minus 2). Images, on the other hand, go directly into long-term memory where they are indelibly etched.”

Furthermore, this effect increases over time. One study found that after three days. A user retained only 10-20 per cent of written or spoken information but almost sixty-five per cent of visual information.

Another study showed that an illustrated text was nine per cent more effective than text alone when testing immediate comprehension and 83 per cent more effective when the test was delayed.

These studies show the power of our eyes seeing something get done rather than just hearing how to do it.

How Can You Become An Effective Leader

How The Action Of Showing Me, Not Telling Me Provides Effective Leadership — Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash

Being an effective leader requires you to focus on what the people your leading need. They don’t need you to tell them what to do, they need you to show them what to do.

A child will learn from the parents who sit down and show them how to do a maths equation. A university student will graduate with the theory of the subject but will only truly learn how to put that theory into action. When someone shows them how to do it first hand.

Remember people will follow the leaders who provide the example to follow not the instructions of how to do it. Nothing compares to seeing clearly how something is done compared to imaging how we think it should be done.

Over To You

I hope you enjoyed today article, how the action of showing me, not telling me provides effective leadership

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Hi, I’m Adam

I’ve spent over 10 years coaching and mentoring people within sport and business. I have many life skills that I have developed and I want to pass these skills on so people can find their best self. I believe it all starts in the mind and I write about valuable tools and strategies to help people grow in this area.

https://thefuturemindset.com/about-2/