People Don't Quit Jobs, They Quit Bosses

Tuesday Thoughts 78

May 18

Question of the Week:

Why do you follow this person?

Leading Thought:

People don't quit jobs. They quit bosses.

I was on Army duty last weekend. My unit and our sister units were introduced to a new senior leader (basically, our bosses's boss). With all these units together, I saw old friends that I'd served alongside on and off for more than a decade, sharing stories of times gone by late into Saturday night.

One observation we shared was the range of leaders we've served through the years. We've had leaders on both ends of the spectrum, amazing and not-so-amazing. There was one consistent metric showing how an organization feels about a leader.

Retention.

When you have poor leadership, people run.

Talent follows good leaders. They always bring in “their people.” They build mutually beneficial relationships.

A leader --a single person-- will make or break an organization.

For me, this weekend was a breath of fresh air.

Our new leader was calm, cool, and confident. These are a few things that stood out to me:

She demonstrated a willingness to be authentic and vulnerable. Rather than repeat the stale training we repeat annually (like suicide prevention), she led training filled with stories in a safe environment that fostered interaction.
She led by example. We had a fitness test administered across two days to two different groups due to numbers. She participated both days -- and led the way each time.
She demonstrated trust and enough self-confidence that she doesn't need to micromanage to lead. She provided clear expectations and expects those working for her will meet them. If they need support, she'll be there.

While it's just first impressions, she looks like a leader worth sticking around for. I’m excited about what's ahead.

What do you look for in a new leader?

Thoughts Worth Exploring:

Sahil Bloom uses "Anti-Goals" for all new projects. As Charlie Munger says, “All I want to know is where I’m going to die, so I’ll never go there."
The Matthew Effect: "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." This is the path to success. Start by just getting on base. The home runs will come later.
Janis Ozolins provides the motivation toward the impossible:

Photo of the Week:

My best military memories are the relationships and people I’ve served with over the years. I've served alongside and known each of these guys for well over a decade.

Stay Curious,

Scott

Scott's Leading Thoughts