Are You The Tortoise or The Hare?

Who gets there faster, the person who has some of the information and starts the journey earlier; or the person who collects all the information and waits to start the journey until everything is just right?

Neither of them are faster.  In a moment, let me explain why

Which person are you?  The proverbial hare or the tortoise?  (Written fable or 1934 Disney movie)

Based on my coaching with hundreds of leaders, let me give you 1 QUICK TIP on how a hare or a tortoise can be more productive and improve relationships with others by being a better listener.

THE HARE

This person has a high sense of urgency.  They may have a psychological motivation to overcome an internal belief that they are not good enough.  They move too fast as part of an ongoing effort to prove others wrong and be "good enough."

The objective to prove yourself "good enough" is as impossible as finding the nickel in the corner of a round room.  The reason is, the target always moves.  When you reach one level of being good enough, then you have to go to another level.  It is an evil, torturous game.

ADVICE FOR THE HARE:  Who you are is not defined by your worst moments.

Your current approach is to get just enough information and then jump to conclusions.  You have a passion to solve the problem and a fear of damage if the issue is not resolved quickly.  This is good, when actions are taken in balance with complete information on the situation.

Unfortunately the hare can jump too fast...  What can you do?

Change your strategy.  Here is one option:

1. Recognize the trigger that ignites your fear and desire to prove yourself.
2. Redirect your fear of the cost of doing nothing, to the fear of the cost of the damage you cause when you make a wrong decision or deliver an incomplete solution that will not last.
3. Slow down.  Stop doing all the talking.  Stop driving.  Start investigating.
4. Engage with others.  Do not fly solo.  There is wisdom in many counselors.
5. You have two eyes, two ears, and one mouth.  Observe with your eyes.  Listen with your ears.  Wait to communicate solutions.  Speak less, and at this stage, only to ask questions.
6. Develop your plan of action.  Get feedback from others.
7. Now you have complete information, full assessment of the risks involved, and a step-by-step strategy to success.  Play to your strengths:  Apply your passion and sense of urgency to drive the process forward to fully complete one step and move to the next.  Repeat this cycle until the process is complete, solution in place, and testing of the solution can begin.

I have been the hare and battle its re-emergence on a daily basis.  Why?  Because bad habits never go away.  You have to overpower them with new, better habits.  The battle between the old and new never ends.

THE TORTOISE

As the proverb suggests, the tortoise is the opposite of the hare.  This person would rather make no decision than a wrong decision.  Even if the status quo is flawed, it is more comfortable to them because the risks and pain are understood.

The objective of this person is often to avoid pain because they have not fully dealt with the pain of their past.  Therefore details, analysis, and thought delay action as "Rome burns."

ADVICE FOR THE TORTOISE:  Who you are is not defined by what you know, but by what you do.

Your current approach is to research all possible information, consider and reconsider possible solutions, discuss issues and options, develop a thorough plan, and then implement the plan methodically... and often behind schedule. 

Unfortunately the tortoise can move too slow...  What can you do?

Change your strategy.  Here is one option:

1. Recognize the trigger that ignites your lack of trust in others and new solutions.
2. Redirect your fear to trust in something that might fail, to focus more of your fear on the cost of doing nothing.
3. Set a deadline to draft a solution that is sooner than you would typically define.  Play to your strengths:  Begin research and conversations to fully understand the issues and options for resolution.
4. Engage with others.  Do not fly solo.  There is wisdom in many counselors.
5. People may disagree with you.  Hear them out and hold them / their ideas to the same standards you demand of yourself.  Avoid asking the same question multiple times in only slightly different ways to try to get a different answer.  This irritates people.
6. Develop your plan of action with feedback from others.  Divide the responsibilities fairly.  Define the schedule for deliverables and accountability.
7. Initiate action.  Meet deadlines.  Have meetings to communicate with others who are involved as often as necessary.  Start and end the meetings on time.  Be a role model for quality, quantity, and timeliness of work.  Have accountability as a group.

The tortoise does a great job of getting to the right destination, but needs to better balance initiating action and speed with quality of work and communicating with others in ways they prefer.

In contrast, the hare does an excellent job of initiating action, but lacks information and thus solutions are incomplete or incorrect.

Most of us are more of a hare or a tortoise.  Acknowledging this we can work to improve our habits so we can leverage our strengths better and avoid the pains of our weaknesses.

Neither the tortoise nor the hare is better.  

They are just different.

One of our key responsibilities as leaders is to help them work and communicate more effectively together.

Do you move too fast, or too slow?  Could you be a better leader?  

Why not work with me and a small group of your peers to improve?  Our  next Certified LEADER class starts on July 15.

Sign-up to work on specific weaknesses you have in your leadership, and to further build upon your strengths.

Leaders must change to stay ahead of the game and grow.  I help leaders like you become better.  We work on leadership skills and systems to hire, manage, develop, and retain top performers, and your systems to grow a thriving company culture.  Contact us if you, other leaders you know, and/or your company wants to be better.