Ok, I have heard it all now! After a few days of a distorted picture while watching my favorite television programming, I called the cable company to see if there has been a technical issues reported in the neighborhood. No, no problems reported.
Then I was asked if there has been stormy weather lately because I had learned a few years ago that in my region poor weather conditions sometimes affects the quality of picture via the satellite dish. Then the technician reported that the picture was being affected by the trees. Excuse me. Are you serious? The problem is in the trees? Yes, that’s right. Apparently, the leaves on the trees behind the house have grown differently this year thereby restricting the satellite dish from getting appropriate connection to produce a clear television picture. What? Are you kidding me?
After I have calmed myself and started to try to think from this irrational perspective, considered some careful action. Sure, I could have complained to neighbors. I could have gone on endlessly chatting with friends about the problem and ludicrous nature of the assertion.
But as a leader, I know the best way to make something better is to speak up and take action. So, I consulted my trusty guidebook, Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success and found some helpful answers. No, the book was not a panacea for the tree-related cable TV problem. On the contrary, it offered solutions to frame the issues of concern. Since I knew every good leader must speak up they must also speak directly to the issues. Here are three suggestions in the “tree leaves” of Leadership Building Blocks to shape a response the next time you get an off-the-way answer from your service providers or anyone else with ridiculous notions:
- Stay on Topic – Be sure that you are talking about the same issue rather than straying and having a conversation about an unrelated matter. Despite distractions or temptation to expand the issue, keep the conversation focused.
- Probe all Aspects – If you’re not sure what the issue is about, probe all aspects to get a better understanding. That way you will better be able to make your case and also listen with understanding where there might be differences.
- Communication Pros/Cons – Identify the benefits and drawbacks of any decision. This way you will know the specific ways any action will be helpful or not.
