Don’t Assume

Interesting political theater the other day at the DNC. Step away from the politics for a moment and look at it from a leadership perspective.

An assumption was made that everyone would support it and when they didn’t there was no backup plan.

As leaders we often spend days, weeks, months, and even years laboring over a decision. We can’t assume that just because we have arrived at a conclusion that everyone else can arrive at the same conclusion in a matter of minutes.

Don’t just assume that people will:

show up

volunteer

give

make a sacrifice

step up to lead

accept new service times

reproduce their group

tell their friends and neighbors

Change doesn’t just happen. People, you and I, don’t change without explanation or a catalyst.

Leadership is about proclamations and going first, but it is also about doubling back, answering lingering questions, and making a thousand small course corrections that make the big changes more expected than alarming.

Don’t just assume you have buy in because if you don’t, you don’t want to be on stage in front of everyone when you find out.