You are only as strong as your follow up game
As a kid basketball was my sport. If I had a free moment, I was usually shooting hoops or playing a pickup game.
While height wasn’t always my advocate in basketball, there were a few key disciplines which allowed me to hold my own on the court. Perhaps the biggest of these was the idea of follow through and follow up.
You see once you take a shot, you have to follow it up. The ball might not go through the hoop. If you want to have the best chance of putting points on the board you have to follow up your shot by moving towards the goal. That follow up puts you in position to rebound the ball before it is lost to the other team.
When you lead a team of people, the follow up is just as important.
What happens when someone doesn’t meet expectations? Whether it is a volunteer not showing up to serve, an employee missing a meeting or simply someone you trust falling short on an obligation - following up (and the way you do it) is of major importance.
As a leader, what you do next is crucial. Here are a few guiding principles as you address unmet expectations:
Lead out relationally - focus on the person rather than a problem
Make it timely - keep short accounts; address issues before they become the distant past
Have a positive outlook - go in believing the conversation will benefit both the person and their team
Want the best for them - consider what they might need to thrive
