As moxie-leaders, we need the people around us to give a damn about success – their own and yours.
When people have a battle cry they believe in, they show up to fight for victory. People are dying to make a difference.
Sometimes however people sabotage even this core need. Usually it’s the result of missing information; but don’t be fooled, sabotage is always grounded in some fear.
Bottom line: we need people to care, and if they don’t, we better start asking why.
5 Ways to Assess People’s Quest for Victory in any Battle Cry:
1. Ask them what they believe they are working to accomplish – in the big picture. (Do they know your battle cry, your team’s battle cry, or the company’s battle cry?)
2. Ask them why they want to help accomplish that big picture. (Are they inspired by it? Do they feel it is important and meaningful?)
3. Ask them why winning the battle matters to them professionally and personally. (What’s at stake for them? What is their battle cry?)
4. Ask them what actions they have taken that were not specifically assigned to them but that contributed to victory. (We want to know if they feel like they can draw outside the lines, and if so, do they?)
5. Then model it for them. Show them what it means to give a damn. Show them what it looks like to be inspired, responsible, committed, and in action. Show them what moxie looks like. Show them how they can use moxie as a strategic advantage.
(This is a picture of a billboard I found at a church in Pennsylvania on my cross-country bicycle ride this summer (The Moxie Ride). It’s perfect when contemplating why people care or don’t care. They often lose sight of the most important moments. Your job is to remind them.)
