We encounter leaders everyday that are ineffective or merely competent. But the best leaders break through to their followers' fears and complacency to spur real productivity....because they know how to both challenge and nurture.
They build trust, spark change and create focus at the individual, team or organisational level to release themselves and their followers from the fears and insecurities preventing them from reaching their full potential; thereby increasing engagement and creating conditions for innovation.
Through worldwide research with senior executives, the authors of CARE TO DARE (Jossey-Bass) provide numerous examples of business leaders and everyday people who were able to achieve many goals they viewed as impossible.
“Together we can achieve great things."
Playing to win requires courage that translates into a willingness to take the necessary risks to succeed. When you stay bonded to your people, while also focusing the team or organisation on stretch goals, you are playing to win.
When playing to win, you provide a high focus on relationships as well as a high level of challenge, so that both you and your followers can reach the highest levels of performance. As much as possible, you take feelings of threat and defensiveness out of the equation. You are there to cover others' backs and, at the same time, you challenge your followers with tough feedback and high expectations. Since they feel both safe and challenged, they will feel free to explore, be creative and take the risks inherent in innovation. They will fully engage and follow you through change. Because caring is as important as daring, you will not pursue options that allow others to lose.
Playing to win is the approach that lets you lead at your best and have the deepest impact on others and on the business.
Reference: Kohlrieser, George. “Care to Dare: Unleashing Astonishing Potential through Secure Base Leadership.”
