Episode Summary
In this episode of Mondays with Mike, host Mike Staver addresses the challenge of changing the energy within a team that persistently resists their leader’s suggestions. Mike uses a real-world approach, recommending that leaders foster open conversations rather than playing the authority card. He shares the importance of surfacing and addressing the root causes of resistance, suggesting that leaders hold honest discussions with their teams to better understand what’s behind the pushback.
Drawing on his coaching experience, Mike Staver explains that teams function better when they collectively agree on the desired outcomes, even if there’s debate about the strategies to get there. He emphasizes flexibility and the power of consensus when moving forward with any plan, using practical analogies to illustrate his points. By shifting the focus from rigid directives to collaborative goal-setting, Mike Staver highlights the first steps to reinvigorating a team dynamic and promoting long-term effectiveness and trust.
Key Takeaways
- Open, non-confrontational dialogue is crucial when dealing with resistant teams—leaders should address resistance directly and invite honest feedback.
- Focus on gaining agreement around shared outcomes, not just methods; this helps foster buy-in and collective responsibility for results.
- Leaders should avoid using their position of authority as leverage and, instead, engage their teams in figuring out solutions together.
- Flexibility in strategies, while being firm about outcomes, can help disrupt negative energy and move the team toward collaboration and forward progress.
Notable Quotes
- “Every single time we have made a suggestion or I have made a suggestion in the last six weeks, you have told me why that is a bad idea. And I don’t want to play the ‘I’m the boss’ hand. So I want to talk about why there’s so much resistance.”
- “The best way to avoid resistance is to get agreement on the outcome we’re looking for and then be flexible on the strategy.”
- “We have to figure out a way to move the ball down the field. So if it’s not my idea, then we as a collective team need to get agreement that that’s the outcome.”
Mike Staver is the CEO and Founder of The Staver Group, a proven leadership development firm dedicated to improving organizational performance by closing the gap between intentions and execution. To learn more about working with Mike and The Staver Group, email info@mikestaver.com.
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