Hey, there! I talk about non-linear growth strategies and leadership development for tech leaders. Get mindset deep dives to break through into senior leadership roles.
Mounica Veggalam | 20-04-2024
Read time: 5 mins
Hey Reader!
Today’s deep-dive responds to the annoying feedback most managers receive, “Step up as a leader.”
If you’ve been left clueless with vague descriptions of what that means, I hear you. It would drive anyone nuts and get you fired up to hustle more (or quietly quit). I’ve got some harsh truths to put on the table for you to consider.
Ready for it? Let’s dive in.
Consider this conversation between Tina and her boss David.
David: You said we would get this out by this week. I don’t see any signs of it. What’s happening?
Tina: I’m receiving a lot of pushback from the engineers. The QA team dropped the ball and started working on something else. The PMs gave unreasonable specs.
David: The PMs?
Tina: Yes, Alex especially does this all the time. They don’t consider the engineering side of things.
Any guesses about what’s wrong with this conversation?
Tina is in a “Victim” trap.
Yes, there are valid reasons why something didn’t happen or justifications for things not falling in place. But, in the context of becoming a leader, justifications indicate an opportunity to take more ownership.
The common theme?
Blame.
What’s really happening here is that your mind is reacting to the loss of control. What you intended did not happen the way you intended (or you see it’s not going to happen). Everything feels out of your control.
Then, we have two default reactions:
These go hand-in-hand. It happens all the time to leaders, especially leaders.
I consider myself a reasonably high-agency person. I take up duties readily and am the first person to drive so that things get done.
Okay. A bit too much on the last one.
My point is drivenness does not equal leadership. What’s lying underneath the layer of duty & responsibility is a grappling for control – so you can get your desired results.
And when the results don’t show up, it leads to resentment. It drains you. It creates patterns of over-working and eventually… you feel like a victim.
Either everybody else suddenly becomes responsible, or you were responsible for how things turned out.
Rather than falling into the never-ending cycle of who’s responsible, leaders operate from a place of empowerment.
The need to talk about the ‘because’ becomes irrelevant when you are a leader.
Instead of discussing the past and who’s responsible, you have a conversation about what you choose to do - specifically, what ART do you want to create given this situation?
That is empowerment.
Let’s make it real. Here are some patterns in your day-to-day job that show the victim mindset and how to become empowered.
Do you often find yourself on either side of this conversation –
It’s not enough to ask. It’s a burden on your manager to think of something for you. Though a great manager would do that, you’re not showing 100% ownership by being in this state.
You may fall into the victim mindset– resenting your manager for not being the kind of person you are (or you want them to be).
Empowered Approach: Have a conversation about what you want. “My career is important to me. Is it important to you as well? If so, I would like some coaching from you in these areas. How can we approach this?”. For example, being more strategic.
As a high-agency person, you might have thought about building trust in the team. You might-
But when all these efforts are not enough, you subconsciously give up. You start blaming certain people (especially the most opinionated ones on the team).
Remember, any Blame = Victim Mindset
Empowered Approach: Find creative ways to create the culture you want instead of falling for the blame. It’s a leadership opportunity.
In one of my client conversations about trust, we arrived at a solution that won’t take much time but also model vulnerability. Trust becomes the default way when you develop deep intimacy with each person. And when you model that, everyone else follows suit.
Send a personal email every week to your team (better yet, a Loom video)
Anytime you’re overwhelmed, you’re in the unwinnable game of who’s in control. Either you try to control everything or let your work control you.
Either way, the victim feelings are not far away.
Empowered Approach: Declutter your time ruthlessly. Create space for lots of internal reflection and connecting to a relaxed, focused presence.
Kim Scott (author of Radical Candor) suggests
Whenever I point out the “victim” trap, the most common reaction is, “No way!” and then, “I get it, but I’m a highly responsible person.”
If those were your first thoughts, you’re likely in The Victim Trap – and it’s time to escape.
And that's it for today!
I almost forgot the customary GIF. Hope you don't have a disapproving denail look right now:
PLUS, whenever you’re ready, here are the ways I can help you:
Executive Presence and Performance Coach
Hey, there! I talk about non-linear growth strategies and leadership development for tech leaders. Get mindset deep dives to break through into senior leadership roles.
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