Be a pro-active leader! Be the thermostat!
Aug 14, 2025Yesterday, we diagnosed the temperature of our teams. We asked: are you a thermometer (reactive) or a thermostat (pro-active)?
If you've identified that the climate isn't right for growth- maybe it's too cold (fear) or too hot (chaos)—the next question is: how do you change it?
The thermostat-leader's job is not to manage people, but to manage the conditions.
To create that perfect climate for growth -that space of "uncomfortable excitement" where my teams feel challenged enough to innovate and safe enough to fail -I've learned to focus on three consistent actions:
🚀 I model vulnerability. I don't just ask for honesty; I go first by sharing my own struggles and uncertainties. This makes it safe for others to do the same.
🚀 I frame mistakes as data. A failed experiment isn't a failure; it's the discovery of a way that doesn't work. This mindset transforms fear into curiosity.
🚀 I protect new ideas. I actively shield fragile, new ideas from the "yes, but" culture, creating space for 'Expansive Thinking' before jumping to practical objections. -Want to know how? - check out my August 6 post: “I once saw a director's visionary plan get completely derailed in a team meeting.”
So ask yourself this week: Am I just reacting to the climate -or am I helping to set it?
