Do as I say not as I do
Do you do things which would get you mad if someone else did them the same way?
I was playing a tennis match. My doubles partner said to me: when we’re playing on the side facing the sun, we should let the ball bounce before we hit it since it would be hard to see and odds are we would hit it right into the net.
Good idea.
We were on the side facing the sun. The ball was hit to my partner. She went for the ball without letting it bounce. It went right into the net.
I laughed. She looked at me kind of funny. I said
You just did what you said not to do!
She got it and laughed as well.
In this circumstance we laughed but many times a situation of miscommunication can lead to conflict, lack of motivation or anger.
As a leader or manager do you ever get frustrated when something isn’t done when and how you think it should have been?
Can it be possible that maybe, just maybe, you aren’t always leading by example or not communicating fully what the outcome should be?
Is it possible you can have a do as I say, not as I do attitude?
When I acknowledge I try to motivate clients with actions which could work but I wouldn’t necessarily do myself:
• I get sometimes this works as we’re all different and some are very willing to do things others won’t
• I need to dig deep within myself to understand the lack of motivation for me to acknowledge it could be un-motivating for them as well
• I realize doing this could cause me to appear insincere which could get others angry and unproductive
It is conceivable even if you don’t do something it is beneficial for others to do so. Even that acknowledgment, and the reasons why, could get someone motivated.
While my tennis partner didn’t follow her own advice, I did. And it helped me in some moments.
A do as I say, not as I do attitude can work if acknowledged. And if it doesn’t work, and you get its there, you can change it to something which does work!