Dallas Mavericks
Leaders Make Tough Decisions

Facing Reality

I mentioned that I attended an NBA game this week featuring one of the league's best teams, the Dallas Mavericks.  They demolished their opponents the night I went and they did it for one reason:  They had superior talent.  The other team played hard, tried with all their might, and tried everything they knew to defeat the Dallas team.  They haven't defeated Dallas in three years and won't defeat them any time soon. 

Why do I mention this?  Because I work with churches and businesses who want to win but don't have the talent to do so.  They want world class results from a team that is less than world class in its capabilities.  When faced with the need to make some changes on the team, however, usually these same leaders or managers recoil, choosing instead to restructure, put team members on probation, send them to seminars or just fuss at everyone.  The results are almost always the same because at the end of the day all they have done is tried to get different results using the same players.  It's like someone who wants a new look but only rearranges the "furniture" they already have.

As a business or ministry grows, the dynamics and nature of the business change.  Sometimes people reach their limits or don't really want the increased pressure that growth brings.  When that happens, they need to be honest and leadership needs to help them be honest.  Then everyone needs to pursue "Win/Win," a scenario that is in the best interests of both the business and the team member.

It requires courage to do this and most leaders and managers don't want to feel bad when a change needs to take place in the team.  They may say they are doing it for the team member, but usually they are doing it to protect themselves.  I always felt it was the most merciful thing I could do, and that was to get the team member to a place where they could connect with an opportunity that was better suited to their gifts and talents. I also felt I was employed by the organization to serve its best interests and not my own.  Not making a tough talent decision was shirking my responsibilities.

So, have you been putting off a tough team member decision?  Are you unhappy but trying to redouble your efforts to make someone effective who is no longer doing the job?  Or perhaps you are an employee, and you are not facing the reality that you are no longer happy where you are?  Whatever the scenario, it's time to face the music.  Results come from people doing what they do best.  Any effort less than that is frustrating to everyone in the organization and needs to be addressed honestly and directly.  Are you up to the task? 

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