| Do you want to quickly understand if someone is a leader? Ask them what life means to them. If life is— struggle If it’s a dead end, then it’s a dead end. If it’s a game, then it’s just right.
Does the value of the prize matter to someone playing football? Of course not! They enjoy the game itself! They’re willing to endure bruises, counterattacks, rain, or heat. They find joy in playing. The outcome, in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t really matter. What matters is the process. And the process, in a magical way, is successful. Now let’s go to the workplace. Try to imagine working when water is pouring through the roof and the air conditioners aren’t working. I won’t even ask you to run back and forth, and I won’t “motivate” you in meetings to score more goals. You still won’t be happy. Why? Because you’re in a struggle, not a game. What do leaders do? Leaders turn everything into a game. The game is the drive. If you don’t know how to “play” your work, just ask a professional, after all (advertising pause). But really, just remember the words of Baron Munchausen from his famous movie: “I understand what your problem is. You are too serious. A serious face is not a sign of intelligence, gentlemen. All the nonsense in the world is done with that very expression. Smile, gentlemen, smile!The text for translation: «. What needs to be done, in general terms, to turn work for your team into a game? I’ll write this down, but I bet no one will follow it (that’s why I’m not afraid to write it, as if to avoid revealing a “trade secret”). Always stay connected with your subordinates. Listen to them. Keep track of the score. Show who the best is. Set clear and simple goals. Make sure they are visible, achievable, and interesting. Constantly engage in mentoring. Teach your people not what to do (they already know that), but how to do it. Help them. Be a coach, in the sports sense of the word. Guide people towards their own goals, ensuring that the company’s objectives align with that path. Make it so that everyone chooses this path for themselves. I have often been accused of being unserious by short-sighted people. I, along with others who are more forward-thinking, always knew that I was simply a step more serious than those who accused me, and my irony and smile were not signs of immaturity, but rather indicators of understanding the next step. However, no one has ever been able to accuse me of inefficiency in my entire life. Nothing I did or accomplished could have been done faster or better than how I did it or with my involvement. That is the truth, even though I often made mistakes, sometimes on a large scale. |