Are You Practicing Audible-Ready Leadership?
Written by: Donna Thaxter - Training, Coaching, and Professional Development Consultant
In the realm of leadership and coaching, Don Shula's timeless wisdom from the book "Everyone's a Coach," co-authored with Ken Blanchard, sheds light on a crucial aspect known as the Audible-Ready Leadership Style. Drawing inspiration from football's intense and sometimes unpredictable nature, this leadership style emphasizes the importance of spontaneity and adaptability in the face of unforeseen challenges. Being audible-ready means being able to change course or shift gears swiftly when a planned strategy appears to be heading toward an impasse.
Great leaders excel by listening to their teams and leveraging business analytics and industry trends to make well-informed decisions. They instill an audible-ready mentality in their teams by anticipating potential variables that could disrupt their plans. As a coach, Don Shula applied a proactive "what if" mentality to game strategy, a mindset that can be translated into various business contexts. For instance, in the mortgage industry, an audible-ready approach involves understanding and preparing for a range of variables, such as dealing with low housing inventory and its effect on affordability, competing with better pricing, or navigating the need for buyers to tap into home equity for new home purchases.
Whether you’re leading a sales, operations, or finance team, fostering a culture of anticipation and preparedness for potential variables is crucial. Collaboratively identifying, practicing, and refining strategies to handle a range of realistic scenarios enhances a team's agility, ultimately positioning them for success in today's unprecedented market environment. The Audible-Ready Leadership Style is not just a playbook for success; it is an approach that equips leaders and teams to navigate uncertainties with confidence and resilience.
Contact our Director, Bill Dolan, to learn more about Spillane Consulting’s Leadership Development, training, and coaching programs. You can reach Bill via email (WDolan@scapartnering.com) or phone (617-694-2617).
