Drop Your Defenses - By MAP Consulting

Drop Your Defenses · Pay attention to your gut. · Ask for feedback. · Embrace the feedback. · Get more facts. · Be open to “bad news.” When you get ... Skiptocontent ServicesServicesOverviewTheMAPProgramTheMAPManagementSystem™BusinessPlanningOnsiteTrainingMAPDigitalExecutiveCoachingTeamBuildingMAPFilmSeriesCustomizedLeadershipDevelopmentWorkshopsWorkshopsOverviewWorkshopsScheduleTestimonialsClientVideoTestimonialsServicesFinancialServicesFood&BeverageConstructionHealthcareTechnologyPublicSectorNon-ProfitRealEstateManufacturingMiscellaneousBlogAboutOurTeamContactMAPDigitalMAPAppMAPUniversityAlumni DropYourDefenses DropYourDefenses Asleaders,wecanallgetalittledefensivenowandthen.Buthaveyouevernoticedyourselfgettingoverlyreactiveonaregularbasis?Ifso,it’stimetocooloff.Habituallydefensivebehaviorcreatesanatmosphereinwhichpeoplewalkoneggshellsandstruggletocommunicate—primarilywithyou.Andthat’sdangerousforyourbusiness’swell-beingbecauseitcanstifletransparency,ideas,productivity,profitabilityandprogress.Soletgoofdefensesanddisplayconfidentleadershipbywelcomingfeedbackfromothers.Thisleadershiptraitwillbuildyourcredibilityandopencriticallinesofcommunication. Howdoyouknowifyou’rebeingsoregularlyoverlyreactive?It’safeelingyougetinyourgutandoneyoushouldn’tignore.Iknow,becauseearlyinmycareer,itwassomethingIhadtoaddress,anditrelatedmainlytomygrowingself-confidenceandmaturityasaleader.WhatIdiscoveredintheprocessisthatmanyleadersmustlearntomanagedefensivetendenciesiftheytrulywanttogetbetteratwhattheydo.Whentheysuccessfullycombatthiscommonchallenge,itbecomesaturningpointintheircareer,positioningthemforexplosivepotential. Thatsaid,beingdefensiveisafairlynormaltendencyandsomethingthatwemustcontinuetokeepincheck.Herearesomeimportant“todos”toreelbackthisoverlyreactivebehavior. Payattentiontoyourgut.Ifyou’resensingthatyou’rebeingunnecessarilyoroverlydefensive,it’stimeforself-examination.Whyareyoubehavingthisway?Whereisitcomingfrom?Isitreallytrue?Areyouwillingtochange? Askforfeedback.Collectinputonyourbehaviorbyhavingacandidtalkwithyourdirectreports,colleaguesorteammembersatwork.Or,useatool—sendoutananonymous360-feedbackqueryifit’sevenremotelypossibleyou’vecultivatedacultureinwhichpeopledon’tfeelcomfortablespeakingupaboutyourleadershipstyleanddefensivebehavior.Youcouldalsoaskamentorforhisorherhonestopinionandgethelpcreatingtherightquestionstoask. Embracethefeedback.Whethersomeoneisspeakingupaboutyourpersonalleadershipweaknessesorsomethingaboutthecompany,viewthisinputasagift—onethatcanhelpyouandyourcompanyimprove.Genuinelythankthatpersonforsharingwhateverthey’vecourageouslychosentotellyou. Getmorefacts.They’repowerfulandcantransformyourperspective,impactinghowyouwillreactormanageallegedaccusations,surfacingcompanyinformation,orpeople’sopinionsandfeelingsaboutyou. Beopento“badnews.”Whenyougetit,startbytakingadeepbreath,don’treactjustyet,butthenasmentionedabove,launchyourfact-findingmission.Eventheworstnewscanbecomeavaluablelessonlearnedthatcaneventuallyspinyourcompanycompassintherightdirection. Neverfightforthesakeofwinning.Thisreactiveleadershipstylecanbeacareerderailer.It’sasuresignthatyourhot-headedegoandemotions,insteadofyourrationalbrain,aredrivingallyousayanddo.Fightingjusttowineventuallybackfiresandcandamageyourprofessionalreputationforlife. Haveyounoticedcertainpatternsinhowdefensivebehaviordevelops? Category: LeadershipandManagementByMAPConsultingMarch9,2021 RelatedArticlesLostYourLeadershipWay?Here’sHowtoFindYourPathBackMarch8,2021ThreeStepstoFindingYourLeadershipFocusMarch8,2021Off-CourseWithYourGoals?Here’sHowtoGet–AndStay–OnTrackMarch8,2021LetUsBeYourGuide Havequestionsaboutwhatprogramworksbestforyouandyourteam?We’reheretohelp. Connectwithourexpertteammemberstocreatethecustomroadmapyouneed. ContactUs GotoTop