Minimum compliance

 

My mother spoke some harsh words to me that shocked me to my core, that I did not know how to communicate well.  I was actually not practicing non-violent communication because she felt that i needed to be always right.  

I heard this as well from colleagues who said to my face that I didn't know how to listen.  Worse is that I was described as a leader who always needed validation.  So insecure. So needy.

Today, the phrase that stuck to my ears is that "I am not in the same boat as the rest of the team."  It had to reach this level of severity that I had to endure the humiliation of mutiny. I have somehow failed in connecting with my team so make sure we were aligned with the same targets, a bitter pill to take.  Such a humbling experience.

My first instinct is to quit, realizing that I did not have the moral ascendency over my team.  I had a smalled tight-knit group of trusted leaders, but they failed to convey these concerns directly to me until the tension spilled over and the team needed courage and strength in unity to confront me with their concerns 

I've never been one to settle for minimum compliance, but I've learned during my masteral courses that "DONE is better than perfect."