What happens when a leadership strength becomes a liability?
Picture a leader named Chris.
Chris knows every team member’s birthday. He checks in regularly, asks how people are doing, and bends over backwards to make sure no one feels overlooked. When someone is struggling, Chris is the first to offer flexibility.
His team loves working for him.
They also haven’t hit a quarterly target in over a year.
Now picture Darlene.
Darlene runs a tight ship. Her team consistently delivers, often ahead of schedule. She sets clear expectations, holds people accountable, and has a reputation for getting results.
She also has the highest turnover rate in the organization.
Here’s the thing: Chris and Darlene are both caring, committed leaders. They’re both doing what they believe is right.
And they’re both slowly breaking their teams.
Chris has over-focused on People to the neglect of Results. His team feels supported, but struggles to compete.
Darlene has over-focused on Results to the neglect of People. Her team delivers, but morale is low and people feel like cogs in a machine.
Both leaders are stuck in an Either/Or leadership approach.
What they need is a third option.
The Double Bottom Line
In my forthcoming book Winning Culture, I explain how People AND Results is one of the most important tensions every leader and organization must learn to manage.
Winning cultures don’t choose between caring deeply about the people in the business and caring deeply about the success of the business.
They commit to both.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
Most leaders agree with this in theory.
But under pressure, we tend to favour one side.
So where do you spend most of your time?
The assessment above reveals four very different workplace cultures:
1. Ignored & Insolvent: Low People + Low Results
People aren’t thriving and neither is the business.
2. Supportive & Struggling: High People + Low Results
People feel cared for and supported, but expectations, accountability, and performance have slipped.
3. Driven & Drained: Low People + High Results
The numbers may look good, but people are paying the price. Eventually, burnout, disengagement, and turnover catch up.
4. Caring & Competitive: High People + High Results
People know they matter AND they know performance matters. This is the Double Bottom Line.
So where do Chris and Darlene land?
Chris is Supportive & Struggling.
Darlene is Driven & Drained.
And here’s what’s important:
Chris doesn’t need to care less about people. He needs to add a stronger focus on results.
Darlene doesn’t need to care less about results. She needs to add a stronger focus on people.
The goal isn’t to abandon your strengths. It’s to expand them by learning to value and integrate the other side.
So, take another look at the assessment.
What’s working well on the side you’re strongest in?
And what would it look like to strengthen the side you’ve been neglecting?
Your team doesn’t need you to choose. They need you to Lead with AND, and care deeply about People AND Results.
That’s the Double Bottom Line.
Want a sneak peek at the book behind this newsletter?
My forthcoming book Winning Culture: The 5 Tensions to Manage for Excellence and Engagement comes out this fall. You can download the first chapter free right now.
Winning Culture – out November 20th.
timarnold.ca/winning-culture
Want to see one of my recent keynotes in action?
Watch this short behind-the-scenes video:
Want to create this kind of experience for your leaders? Let’s talk.
