You WILL Be Misunderstood, Here's What To Do About It | Ep 224
Build with Leila Hormozi
Deep Dive
Why do leaders often face being misunderstood or disliked?
Leaders often face being misunderstood or disliked because they have to make tough decisions that others avoid. These decisions are grounded in facts and evidence, not emotions, and are made for the long-term benefit of the business. However, team members may not see the full context or understand the rationale behind these decisions, leading to misunderstandings or dislike.
What are the two main reasons leaders get misunderstood?
The two main reasons leaders get misunderstood are: 1) They have to make tough decisions that others avoid, often based on facts and evidence rather than emotions. 2) Communication barriers arise as the company grows, and team members don’t always get the full context or rationale behind decisions, leading to misunderstandings.
What is the cost of making decisions as a leader?
The cost of making decisions as a leader is that there will always be people who don’t like or misunderstand those decisions. This is inevitable because leaders must make tough calls that may not align with everyone’s immediate interests or understanding. However, avoiding decisions to be liked or understood leads to stagnation and lack of progress.
How does Leila Hormozi cope with being misunderstood or disliked as a leader?
Leila Hormozi copes with being misunderstood or disliked by anchoring her decisions in her values. She imagines presenting each decision to a 'board of values' to ensure alignment with her principles. She also accepts the trade-off that not being liked by everyone is the price of leadership and focuses on over-communicating the rationale behind her decisions to mitigate misunderstandings.
What is the upside of being misunderstood or disliked as a leader?
The upside of being misunderstood or disliked as a leader is that it often indicates pushing boundaries, driving innovation, and taking the company outside its comfort zone. Many great leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr., Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs, were initially misunderstood or disliked but left a lasting legacy and impact. Being misunderstood can be a sign of progress and growth.
What example does Leila Hormozi give about the consequences of misunderstanding decisions?
Leila Hormozi shares an example where two key leaders resigned immediately after an acquisition because they misunderstood the intentions behind it. One leader left based on a past negative experience her husband had, assuming the same would happen to her. She never stayed to see that no one was fired and the company grew, reinforcing her belief that such decisions lead to negative outcomes.
Why is over-communicating the 'why' behind decisions important for leaders?
Over-communicating the 'why' behind decisions is important because it helps team members understand the rationale and context, reducing misunderstandings. When people don’t see the evidence or reasoning behind a decision, they often make negative assumptions. Sharing as much as possible transparently helps align the team and fosters trust, even if not everyone agrees with the decision.
Shownotes Transcript