Lincoln Murphy

Leaders' Excuses Limit Teams; Ask, Don’t Assume

"The team won't do it" is rarely about them. It's about you. We were talking about having CSMs tell customers when they're getting in their own way. Not being rude. Just direct. "We can only help you if you do your part." One of my leaders said "I don't think the team will do it." I stopped the meeting. This is how leaders become the bottleneck. Not by blocking things. By never asking in the first place. The team will push back on a customer if you show them how. They'll have the direct conversation if you give them the words. They'll hold the line if you make it clear that's the job. But not if you've already decided they won't. "They won't do it" is not insight. It's an excuse. And it's usually the leader's discomfort disguised as the team's resistance. You're not protecting your team. You're projecting onto them. Your assumptions about your team become their ceiling.