This week I sang for a funeral.  It was a B- on "performance".  Definitely missed a few notes, bad breath control, had some mic issues, and the whole time I was thinking, "Father D is going to be so disappointed.  He runs a tight ship and has high expectations."

My youngest just played her first club volleyball tournament. They won eight straight matches, made the finals, and finished second. It was intense, emotional (collective effervescence, anyone?) and the right outcome for where they are. 

Got a text from a loyal reader asking when my next newsletter was coming out. I said, "This week! What lesson has been on your mind lately?" He replied, "I'm learning that when I'm frustrated with someone I need to stop thinking about what they can do different and instead think about what I can do different. It all comes down to my leadership.”

My view on things is too simplistic.  It all comes down to people.  You've got a goal?  One part of the plan isn't working and it's causing other parts to break down?  I'm going to have a very direct question for you - who owns the broken part?  Who is driving that initiative?

5 Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni talks about the hallmarks of a struggling business: absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results.  

A great leader proactively builds their team's cohesiveness. They critically evaluate current team interactions and anticipate how the team will evolve in the next three years if no course corrections are made. They identify the biggest pain point and tackle it head-on, immediately.

Big growth is massively compounded by great leadership, not great do-ership.  Unfortunately, the stress that accompanies growth often creates chaos and causes most leaders to throw themselves back into the weeds to get things done.  

Too often leaders go into the conversation and make a withdrawal from the bank account, not realizing they are bankrupt.  Go into every conversation assuming you're poor and you need to make a deposit.