Leading Through Transformation - Acknowledge

When it comes to the topic of transformation, I often say to people…"This all sounds great until you get actual humans involved."

This stuff is difficult. On the people that go through it, and the leaders who lead it. So how can we, as transformation leaders, be more effective?

We can start by simply acknowledging that it's really hard.

I talked previously about the 'easy button.' The problem the easy button is that when we say what sounds good in the moment we make the problem worse. We artificially set expectations. "You said this would be easy!" Stop me if you've heard this one.

When we openly acknowledge that something is difficult, we give others permission to express frustration, anxiety, even anger. Emotional reactions are to be expected. We are, after all, humans. See above.

Instead of saying, "This won't hurt a bit," try saying, "At times, this will be difficult. You will likely be frustrated. Even mad. At me. I understand. I will be here to help you however you need."

Don't try to explain away the emotion. Acknowledge it. Then, acknowledge the courage it takes to commit. Courage, by definition, can't exist without fear. The greater the fear, the greater the courage.

As a transformation leader, your job isn't to sell the easy button.

It is to first acknowledge and then help others work through the emotions that often hold us back from growth.