Aiming for Unshakable Part II
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Last week we looked at the least effective operating levels on the Unshakable Ladder. Did you find yourself there? Hopefully not this early into a new year. Let’s explore the top side of the ladder.
Resolute
Focussed on production and transactional success. Relies on drive rather than delight. Often impressive results. Perspectives include “mustn’t grumble, turn up, work, get paid, go home, rinse and repeat”. It looks resilient, because people bunker down and get it done. But tension is just below the surface. People find common enemies - the boss, or company, or the greenies, or the regulator. They say their team is fine. It’s ‘us and them’ Silos and bunkers galore. Cooperation, support or collaboration beyond the immediate tribe are extremely unlikely. If challenged or held to account, the blame game starts.
Cost of Resolute:
Time: Polarity. Productive in the immediate group. Wasted as people justify, defend and shift blame to others.
Happiness/engagement: Well-being and resilience are neutral. Individuals often report high engagement, but typically scores are low across the business.
Status: Results and toughness are highly valued.
Money: Isolated returns but broad waste due to lack of cohesion.
Cohesive
Everyone heading in the same direction. Two draft horses can reputedly pull 3x the load of one. The cohesive team achieves more than the sum of their efforts. They relish working together. The strong focus on individual results, shifts to achieving results together.
Value of Cohesive:
Time: Well spent, efficient. Focussed on long term. Urgency diminishes as proactivity increases.
Happiness/engagement: High. People enjoy the team and the sense of productive purpose. Wellbeing and resilience are high.
Status: People feel a genuine part of something bigger.
Money: ROI increases due to effective and efficient focus on collective results.
Unshakable
Results become secondary. They are still important, in fact keeping score and seeking feedback have greater focus than at other levels. Teams rise above their transactions. They stand genuinely united and deeply committed to each other. Ego and fear are still present but no longer dominate. Teams actively seek to test themselves under pressure. They value growth.
Unshakable teams and people are like self-righting lifeboats. Rough seas might capsize them, but they roll back up and carry on.
Value of Unshakable:
Time: Output is high but rarely feels pressured.
Happiness/engagement: Very high. People feel highly purposeful, valuable and respected. Well-being and resilience are extremely high.
Status: Teams get widely recognised for their results and ways of working together
Money: ROI is massive. Teams are achieving beyond the sum of their efforts.
More from Mike
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