For this month’s Tip of the Week series, we’re talking about technological, workforce, and other changes that are happening in our practices and other fields and how we can lead our people through them. Last week, we started a discussion on Stephen MR Covey’s book Trust and Inspire and his suggestions for rethinking how we lead.
Mr. Covey contends that “Command & Control” is a traditional style of leadership built on hierarchy, authority, and compliance. Leaders at the top issue orders, and employees are expected to follow without question. The leader’s role is to set direction and give instructions (command) and then monitor, correct, and enforce compliance (control). Leaders know best. Think like the military. We’ll come back to that shortly.
In contrast, “Trust & Inspire” is a modern style of leadership built on a belief in people, empowerment, and purpose. Instead of controlling employees through authority and fear, leaders extend trust, model integrity, and inspire their people by connecting them to a sense of meaning. Think like a gardener: While we must first sow the seeds or plant the bedding plants from the nursery, we then need to water and fertilize them while ensuring they receive adequate sunlight. It’s an allegory for nurturing our people.
You might think that you don’t command or control people, but think of the language we use in our workplaces, much of which is militaristic. We recruit employees. We have a mission and goals. We have managers and systems. We have frontline employees and worry about operating in silos. As a leader, do you motivate your team to compliance, coordination, and incremental improvement? Or do you inspire them to commitment, collaboration, and creative innovation? As a teacher, do you motivate your students? Or do you inspire them to learn and want an education? As a parent, do you micromanage your children? Or do you communicate with them, guide them, and trust them to make wise decisions? As a health care provider, do you tell your patients what to do? Or do you involve them in their health care decisions?
We’re talking about creating a culture that inspires. We inspire our people with trust, which allows us to be more nimble.
Next week, we’ll apply these concepts to our practices.
