We Discover What Is In Us In Times of Pressure

People don't always have the best communication skills, especially in times of extreme stress and pressure. Pressure has a way of squeezing us to see what is deep within us. When it comes out, it can be difficult to hear.

This is what I learned when leading a team through a production ramp in business operations. The team was operating at their maximum output in the given system, however, the customer needed us to ramp production by 3X.

We are in a period of financial constraint when this happened. We did not have money for machines, or headcount. 

What I did during that time has forever changed me. I began talking to each of the workers and learning why their output was constrained. 

Often, I was met with a barrage of insults, profanity, and elevated voices during these conversations. 

I learned that when I remained calm, even when others weren't able to, I could listen for key words in what they were saying. 

When I filtered their feedback and re-stated to them what I heard, they would often respond, "I mean, yeah, if you could fix that, then I could get quite a bit more done every day". 

When we were able to turn these statements into gaps, and form actions around them, we were able to problem solve and create strategy to get to 3X output. 

You may be wondering, "did you get 3X output?". We did. Not only that, but at 3X output, the employee feedback was more positive, then when the rate was low.

Most people don't want to lose in life. Most people are looking for leaders that will help them to learn how to win. Sometimes, to be that type of leader, we have to be humble and listen to what those around us are saying, even if it is difficult to hear.

Let's make tomorrow better than today.