If you don’t have people on your team that can take the tough right decisions even though it hurts, then take the tough decision yourself – take them off the team.
In my few years in leadership and top management, I can’t help but agree with the numerous “people proponents” out there that people – your team, are your greatest assets. But I have also come to realize that your team is also your worst liabilities. Your team WILL make or unmake you as a leader. You can be sure of this.
Nearing the top of the leadership ladder, leaders are no longer hired for their competence but for their ability to exercise good judgment. And the most important of these decisions will be about people – your team.
As a leader, one of your two worst nightmares is to hire the wrong person and the other is to leave the wrong person on your team. Leaders who tolerate the wrong people and wrong behavior on their team because they lack the gut to act on their conviction because of familiarity or sympathy or fear of being unpopular are bound to fail, at best dissipate into oblivion. It is not enough as a leader to know what is the right thing to do. It is only enough when you actually do it by taking that tough right decision and be ready to stick with it.
Jesus left Judas on His team and he betrayed Him. This was however by spiritual design that will offer salvation to all mankind. So if you are convinced that yours is also by some divine life-saving design, then stick with him as Jesus did. Be sure of one thing though, Judas had every opportunity to change but he didn’t. He still betrayed Jesus. There is every likelihood that the Judas (es) on your team will not change and will betray your legacy. Take that tough call now.
People wonder why Politicians always don’t measure up and let their people down. I say, it is because they are always taking the politically right decisions not the tough right decisions. Politically right decisions never stand the test of time and never amount to much eventually. And even worse, when it is taken on people for political expediency. Ultimately, you let down the same people your politically right decision intended to keep up.
Unlike the business balance sheet, Assets never equal Liabilities on the team sheet. It is not okay to have even one liability on your team. One liability is enough to undo all your assets. A little yeast in your flour can permeate every part of the dough. Be bold and intolerant of liabilities on your team even more your leaders who cannot take tough right decisions.
