Why W.A.I.T?

Today’s prescription is simple:  Nothing is truly accomplished alone. 

I’d like to challenge you to think of some of the accomplishments that you have had that you are the most proud.  Maybe it is a personal accomplishment, or maybe it is a professional one.  It could be an award, a promotion at work, or anything else where you felt like you made a difference.   How did that make you feel?  Really think about how successful, how proud, and probably how fulfilled you felt being able to achieve that goal? 

Now for the kicker, I want you to think about all the people who helped you in that pursuit.  Chances are good that you had plenty of help along the way.  Whether it was a mentor that reviewed your paperwork or provided countless hours of guidance.  Or maybe it was a team of individuals that you helped lead to a particularly great outcome. 

My whole career has been in a setting that has secure entry.  To get in, you have to pass through a set of doors that are controlled by another person.  In one particular location the phrase “We Achieve it Together” was painted on the wall.  I admit, I always found it humorous that I was standing, waiting for someone to open a door for me, and the acronym on the wall spelled W.A.I.T.  But this phrase really stuck with me, and should really be taken up as a leadership mantra. 

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”  It is a very famous Harry Truman quote, but one that couldn’t be more true.  Let’s think about one scenario with two approaches.  You work collaboratively as a team leader with two other individuals on a big project.  Scenario 1:  You take credit for all the positive results of the project, and ignore (or at best downplay) the actions of the other team members.  Or Scenario 2:  You downplay your own involvement, and give credit to those members on your team for the success of the project. 

I am willing to bet that sitting here reading this that your first thought is: of course I would act like scenario 2.  However, life isn’t that simple.  What if the success of that project determined a promotion?  What if it was tied to a monetary bonus?  Are you willing to decrease or give up those opportunities to better and further your team?  I would pose a challenge that if you are not ready to do so, then you are not ready for taking your leadership to its highest levels.  And even beyond that, you are holding back the true potential of those you are working with.  As I have previously noted, it is easier to demotivate a motivated person than to motivate an unmotivated one.  And lack of recognition for accomplishments can be a great demotivator.  Which brings us back to Harry Truman.  When is our team operating at its highest levels?  When everyone is valued for their contribution and input.    

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro.  I always enjoy quotes like this.  It shows the power we can have if we work together.  We all have challenges, fears of the unknown, and maybe even concerns about what the future looks like.  But if you can harness the potential of that ocean and direct it toward a common goal, you can bring about sustainable change that makes the world a better place. 

Challenges breed opportunity.  We can best take advantage of those opportunities together.  “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” -Booker T. Washington.   It is this quote that has inspired the logo for The Leadership Prescription.  Those that know me, know how much I actually enjoy children’s television.  There is often a lot of wisdom in these shows, and we will revisit this idea in the future.  I’d like to use one example from the PHS series Daniel Tiger, a newer spinoff of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.  Allow me to quote a set of lyrics that fits right in with what we are talking about:  “Lifting something heavy, Can be hard to do alone, But you’re much stronger, With your friends than on your own, They are there for you, When you need some help, If you can’t do it alone, work together, It’s better to work together.” 

One simple way to start with this concept is to give credit, where credit is due.   When you have an opportunity to speak, make it a point to give credit to those colleagues who are doing great work.  Be deliberate about it, but be genuine about it.  Having your name put out for great work in a simple and genuine way binds you in to a leader.  It creates powerful teams, and powerful teams accomplish great things.  I know I look forward to hearing about all the great people that you get to work with, as well. 

So why W.A.I.T.?  Because it is the only true way to create sustainable change.