Another Observation
We have a favorite restaurant (no website, but a map and review). It is wonderful, authentic, and some of the people there have become our friends. Bad news, though–last time we were there they had a sign on the door that said:
Beginning on Sept 2, we will be close for remodelations
The sign was delightful. I love taking pictures of odd signage, but I didn’t take a shot of this one. These are my friends, and I didn’t want to offend.
Part of my job as an educator (here) is grading papers, correcting grammar, and helping people to communicate clearly. Just so you know, I did not mark the sign wrong or put any proofreading marks on it. This points out an important leadership lesson: When we care about someone, we don’t correct them for things that don’t matter. It’s a restaurant, for pete’s sake, not a news bureau. It’s the food and service inside that matter, and not the grammar on the sign at the door. Give people grace on the little stuff, and you earn the credibility to address the big issues of life.
It is important for leaders to know when to let go, and when an issue needs to be addressed. Those can be generally narrowed to a couple of key areas: Core competencies (the things that are part of one’s role and responsibility), Character (the deep down issues of values, beliefs, and convictions, and how those are lived out), and Belonging (do the quality of one’s relationships integrate or alienate a person from his or her community/neighborhood/workplace, in other words, don’t be a jerk).
I tell my students that there are leadership lessons everywhere. Even at my favorite restaurant.
As for us, we can hardly wait until the remodelations are done.