When did paying the piper become a better investment than paying attention?
- A recent client discussion about the significance of leadership development, particularly emotional intelligence among the partners, and the frustration that getting the time invested to elevate the firm was elusive.
- A separate event occurred where a client email miscommunication turned into a justification.
- A third observation when a group of titled leaders gathered for an important financial discussion turned into posturing and belittling to obtain advantage.
These three disparate events were all investments and investment opportunities. And in each of them, there was withdrawal. When you withdraw more than you deposit, you pay a fee. And the more you over-withdraw, the higher your price becomes.
Think about where you have felt the need to justify your position, where you were operating from power-over instead of power-with. Those are opportunities that will arrive again, and next time I encourage you to think about the deposit first — grace, empathy, curiosity — before the withdrawal costs more than you can afford.
Judy Hissong, CLM
Judy Hissong is the President of Nesso Strategies. A former law firm Chief Operating Officer, she helps firms become more profitable by advising leaders in strategic and leadership development challenges. Her mission is “world domination for Good.” By creating actionable, lightbulb moments that leaders want to share and spread, she intends to improve the world one person at a time. When she’s not speaking, training and consulting, Judy teaches quarterly online workshops and facilitates Leaders Lab, a monthly video conference that enables small groups of leaders to brainstorm strategies and solutions to work through common issues that keep firms stuck. Learn more at www.nessostrategies.com.
