Leading Without De-Motivating: Lessons from Good to Great

Happy Wednesday!

We’re continuing our discussion on Good to Great by Jim Collins. This week, we’re diving into Chapter 4, which focuses on the importance of having the right people on your team.

One key takeaway? The right people don’t need constant motivation—they’re already driven. However, as leaders, we must be intentional about not de-motivating them. That means creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, and heard.

Here are a few discussion questions to reflect on this week:

1. Are there any brutal facts that you’re ignoring because it doesn’t play into your perspective?
2.  Have you ever been told by leadership: “We have always done it this way.”? How did that make you feel?
3. How can you manage in such a way as not to de-motivate people?
4.   How do you make your team feel heard?

To help you with that last question, here are 3 simple tips for making your team feel heard:

• Ask questions instead of immediately shooting down ideas. This shows curiosity and respect.
• Promote a culture of openness, where team members feel safe sharing their thoughts without fear of being dismissed.
• Take action—listening is only powerful when it leads to follow-through.

Listening well and leading intentionally are some of the most powerful tools we have. Let’s keep the conversation going and continue to grow together.

As always, thank you for reading and growing along with us. 

Talent Coaching and Consulting