“My biggest concern is that we have too many holes in the bucket,” a client recently told me.
How many holes in the bucket does your organization have?
Referring to the executive team as the “bucket of goodwill” for the organization is a metaphor that speaks loudly. The executive team is the vessel that holds the positivity, the decision-making, the resources, and the winning spirit for the organization. When there’s a hole in the bucket, all of those valuable resources drain down to the hole. No matter how much you replenish the resources, draining is inevitable.
The “hole” is people who are not aligned or committed on where to play, or how to win in the market. Many teams have people who agree in the room and then disagree when back in their own office. They turn their backs – or go silent – on the shared commitments that hold the bucket together. Most leaders only learn about the holes in the bucket when collaboration wanes, and individual agendas take the spotlight.
How about you?
Have you assessed the strength of your “bucket” with intellectual honesty?
It’s early in the year – if you want to discuss your gut feeling about the strength of your team (the bucket), we’re happy to listen, email us for more information.