A few years ago, I was in a tough spot. I led a large group of people, and although most of them would say I was a fair and good leader, I was struggling. Our team was not meeting our numbers, no matter how hard we tried. There were several reasons for this, but those reasons didn’t matter—the numbers weren’t being met, and I was taking the fall for it daily.
I grew tired of this constant negativity, so to stop the bleeding, I turned on the one thing I had been doing well with: my team. I forgot who I was leading. As a result, the work from that group began to slide, and we were in an even worse situation.
When the chips are down, it’s easy to focus on your own problems, and forget those around you. It’s natural —just look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. However, as a leader, you must never forget who you are leading. They are the reason you hold the title of “manager” or “leader.” Find a way to put your team first, and you’ll eventually right the ship. You ultimately will get the job done—together, as a team.