How to Claim Your Leadership Power | Michael Timms | TED

Summary

In this humorous and insightful talk, the speaker shares his struggle with getting his daughters out the door on time, illustrating the futility of blame and the power of personal accountability. By implementing three habits—don't blame, look in the mirror, and engineer the solution—he not only improved his family's punctuality but also highlighted the importance of these habits for leaders in any context. The speaker emphasizes the transformative effect of taking responsibility and modeling accountability to inspire better performance in others.

Takeaways

• 😀 Parents often struggle with getting children ready and out the door on time, which can feel like herding kittens.
• 🕒 The speaker initially blamed his daughters for always being late, but later realized the importance of personal accountability.
• 🔍 Reflecting on his own actions, the speaker discovered that his daughters lacked clocks in their bathrooms, which contributed to their tardiness.
• 🏠 Implementing solutions like clocks and schedules in common areas helped improve punctuality in the family.
• 🤔 Leaders often fall into the trap of blaming others without considering their own contributions to problems.
• 🌟 The three habits of personal accountability are: Don't blame, Look in the mirror, and Engineer the solution.
• 🚫 Blaming others triggers a fight-or-flight response, which hinders problem-solving and teamwork.
• 🔎 Looking in the mirror involves recognizing one's own contributions to a problem, which can lead to actionable solutions.
• 🛠 Engineering the solution involves using systems thinking to identify and address the root causes of issues, rather than just blaming individuals.
• 🌐 Systems thinking emerged from WWII-era studies showing that cockpit design, not pilot incompetence, was causing plane crashes.
• 🌱 Modeling accountability in oneself can inspire others to take ownership of problems and solutions, leading to a more proactive and effective environment.

Q & A

What was the main problem the speaker faced with his daughters?

The speaker struggled with getting his daughters out the door on time, often resulting in being late for events.

What did the speaker initially do to address the issue of punctuality with his daughters?

Initially, the speaker and his wife would start nagging their daughters long before it was time to leave, but this approach was ineffective and they were always late.

What was the turning point that led the speaker to change his approach to the punctuality issue?

The turning point was a particularly chaotic day when they were about to leave for an important event, and the speaker realized he was not taking any accountability for the problem.

What is the first habit of personal accountability the speaker mentions?

The first habit is 'Don't blame', which emphasizes that blaming others for problems can trigger a fight-or-flight response and impair problem-solving abilities.

How does the speaker define the second habit of personal accountability?

The second habit is 'Look in the mirror', which encourages individuals to identify their own contributions to a problem instead of focusing solely on others' mistakes.

What is the third habit of personal accountability that the speaker introduces?

The third habit is 'Engineer the solution', which involves using systems thinking to understand how environmental and process factors influence behavior and to create sustainable solutions.

What example does the speaker provide to illustrate the concept of 'Engineering the solution'?

The speaker's example is putting up clocks in his daughters' bathrooms and posting a schedule in a common area, which provided them with the necessary information to be punctual.

What does the speaker suggest is the effect of blame on team dynamics?

Blame destroys teamwork, problem-solving, learning, and initiative. It discourages people from admitting mistakes and taking accountability for their actions.

What is the significance of the story about the speaker's assistant and the marketing packages?

The story illustrates the importance of leaders acknowledging their part in problems, which can create a safer environment for others to do the same and foster a more collaborative problem-solving culture.

How does the speaker relate the concept of 'systems thinking' to the US Air Force's approach to reducing plane crashes?

The speaker explains that instead of blaming pilots for crashes, the US Air Force used systems thinking to identify design flaws in the cockpits, leading to a redesign that reduced accidents.

What is the overarching message the speaker wants the audience to take away from his talk?

The speaker's overarching message is that individuals, regardless of their role, can improve outcomes by taking ownership of problems and solutions, modeling accountability, and inspiring others to do the same.