 Capability GapNick Saban, head football coach at Alabama, recently used the phrase ‘capability gap’ in place of ‘potential’ during an interview. I thought it was a brilliant delineation from the typical answer around under achievement.
Saban points out that people often discuss other’s potential in an effort to help move them forward. This is typically a conversation with few actionable points for true growth. Saban chooses to discuss a player’s capability gap. “The capability gap is what you are capable of, relative to what you are doing. People should be aware of that.” Saban counters. He adds, "I think if you understood the truth about that, you can actually take information that can help you sort of close that gap, which is, hopefully, if you are a competitor and you want to do well in the world, that's something you should be interested in doing." Put in this context, it’s hard to argue against his perspective. Why Should We Care? Viewing improvement through the lens of a capability gap brings light to the growth mindset all leaders would like to drive through their team members. The focus can be directed at narrowing the gap rather than realizing one’s potential. I see it as more actionable, more real. There are specific things each team member could do in order to shrink their capability gap. All are different and require unique actions, but all can be intentionally pursued. The belief and hope it communicates is palpable, while not dismissing the gritty facts. We have capabilities; however, they’re not what they could be, should be, or will be. We have work to do. Providing feedback to those around us that serves as a jumpoff point for progress is a big deal for leaders. We often go too far in trying to spare feelings that the truth becomes diluted or even obscured. I think that is exactly what the phrase capability gap can help us with I love the approach when helping others, but it may be even more impactful when it’s directed inward and asked to one’s self: Where are my capability gaps as a Father? Husband? Friend? Leader? I know that leads me to some answers that ignite an urgency to change. REAL TALK - Action Steps Like any good idea, it’s only as useful as you make it. Here are a few ways I’m going to try to implement the ‘capability gap’ into our teams.
Our capability gap, and our team’s capability gap, is a powerful place to look for improvement and growth. Knowing the gap will never close completely, the pursuit of reducing it is the progress that provides fulfillment and accomplishment to those seeking excellence. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!
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 Do Your JobI’m at church on Sunday watching the band play during the opening part of the service and caught myself staring at the drummer. He’s completely engulfed in the beat of the music and flowing effortlessly from drum to drum, all while smiling and seeming to be enjoying every minute of it.
As the song went on, my eyes drifted over to the guitarist. He’s leaning over, possessed by the music he’s creating and fully present with nothing but the song and his guitar. The music quieted towards the end of the song as the vocalist took over. Same thing. The music all but subsided, leaving only the soloist and her backups to bring the song home. She appeared as if nothing else in the world was going on. They were each just doing their job. Why Should We Care? This is how teams should function. It’s how the best teams DO function. I’m sure there are numerous run throughs and conversations prior to each performance. And, I’m sure there is plenty of dialogue from each musician in order for the team to produce the best music possible. But ... At no point did I see the drummer take-off on his own solo while brushing off the song the band was playing. I didn’t notice the guitarist banging his guitar on the floor because he wasn’t sure the drummer would play the right notes. And, I didn’t catch the backup singers stepping forward and singing so loudly that we couldn’t hear the lead vocalist. Everyone just did their jobs. That’s it. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just their jobs. So much of the trouble for teams occurs when we forget, or dismiss, this simple principle. It’s one of the reasons I despise MVP awards. We ask all the people to sacrifice for the team, give up their goals for the goals of the group, and to support their teammates and leaders through the good and bad. We talk about how everyone's contribution is critical for the success of the team and how no person’s job, or role, is any more or less important than another’s. Then we pick one person to be the MVP. How is this consistent with the message above? If it’s really supposed to be about the team, then it’s not. REAL TALK - Action Steps Maintaining perspective as a leader can be difficult. Consistently emphasizing the value in the team should not be. Here are a few ideas on keeping the team at the forefront of your decisions and being intentional about recognizing all contributors.
I like to say “Trust the process”. I think the right process leads to the right outcome most of the time. We can’t control the outcome, but we can control the process. The process always boils down to one thing: doing your job. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Gritty FactsI love Brene Brown’s idea of Gritty Faith and Gritty Facts. The gist of it is that we need to approach challenges and obstacles with an unwavering resolve and confidence (Gritty Faith) while also confronting the brutal reality of the situation (Gritty Facts).
In my opinion, the societal movement to avoid conflict and not hurt anyone’s feelings has made the Gritty Facts part … we’ll say elusive. It’s commonplace to bring up the obvious problem, everyone does that. We’ll have meetings about it, spend an inordinate amount of time discussing and complaining about it, just to propose a simple solution to a simpler problem. Problem solved, boxed checked. Few teams spend the time to surface the root of the problem, reflect and evaluate their individual role in the issue, then come together to find a solution that doesn’t just solve the problem but moves the team and organization forward all together. I find the biggest problem not to be finding the solution, but asking the question in the first place. This is especially true when things are going well. If we’re winning, meeting our goals, everything must be going well right? The Gritty Facts are, we’re killing it! Not necessarily so. Why Should We Care? Following football, basketball, and baseball games growing up I would always ride home with my dad. He coached several of the teams I played on, but not all of them. Dad is a man of few words and rarely offers his opinion ... unless you ask. Now, if you ask, you’re going to get the truth. It’s not going to be filtered or softened. It’s not going to account for how you felt that day or what your ego might want to hear. You’re getting the Gritty Facts. I figured that out pretty quickly and would save the “How’d you think I played, Dad?” question for games I was confident dad’s feedback would boost my confidence. Afterall, we all want our dad to say how great he thought we played, right? I miscalculated one game. After a basketball practice in which I thought I played pretty well, I clearly remember my dad’s assessment being quite different. Following my search for praise, he listed off a myriad of mistakes and lapses in focus and effort that were unacceptable in his mind. Of course, my natural response was to defend them - in my head of course, not outloud. When we arrived home mom could tell that I was upset. I’m sure the not-so-subtle dropping of my bag and closing of my door tipped her off. Mom is like the Gritty Faith angel. She thinks we can do anything, and she never hesitates to tell us so. She is the constant dealer of hope. When she came into my room she did the normal mom stuff like asking me how practice was and expecting an answer of more than a single word. Then, she smiled, patted me on the back and said “Your dad loves you. That’s why he tells you the truth. If you don’t want the truth from him, don’t ask.” And she got up and walked out of the room. I think we all need to be more willing to ask … AND LISTEN to the Gritty Facts. REAL TALK - Action Steps It’s not easy to open yourself up for critical feedback, but nothing good is easy. We need to find ways to establish processes that now only allow the Gritty Facts to surface, but encourage them. Here are a few ideas that might help.
Honesty is love. We need to embrace this fact. Sure it may hurt our feelings at the moment. Sure it may embarrass us or make us angry. The willingness to see the long term benefit and actively embracing the Gritty Facts is one of the trademarks of excellence. Seek it more. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Follow To LeadLike most young boys, I loved helping my dad. It didn’t really matter if he was working on a car, splitting wood, or fixing something in the house. I loved it. Of course, my role was always the same. I was the gopher. Whatever dad needed that wasn’t within reach, that’s when my services came in.
A Phillips screwdriver? I would bring three to make sure one of them was right. More gas for the chainsaw? I would drag the can to him if I couldn’t carry it. Flipping an electric breaker? I would close my eyes and hope I didn’t get shocked every time. Whatever dad needed, I was willing to do. This is where leadership starts … with following. We all follow before we lead. Following is our introduction to serving. It’s where we find out how good it feels to help someone else. It lays the foundation for the desire to contribute to something bigger than yourself. Why Should We Care? Yet, as soon as we get a taste of leadership we stop talking about following and focus solely on leading. As a matter of fact, in some circles, following becomes a derogatory label. Think about that. The very thing that taught us the value of helping, serving, is viewed by some as a negative. A lack of motivation and purpose or purpose and direction are all used as the reason someone has gone ‘wrong’ and is ‘just’ a follower. It’s ridiculous when you really examine it. If excellence, performing at our highest level, is the objective, then we should all be leading and following. It’s not an either, or. It’s an AND. Depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the team, the most effective leaders are fluid in their movement between leading and following. A willingness to follow as the leader is also the mark of humility for a leader, an attribute that is more appealing than charisma or power. By choosing to follow, we can empower and uplift our team members without ever spending a dime or saying a word. REAL TALK - Action Steps Striking a balance of leading and following is positive for anyone, not just leaders. There is a definite tendency in leadership to dismiss the need to continue following. Here are a few ideas to maintain the balance.
The old adage of “be a leader, not a follower” needs to be retired. We all need to lead and we all need to follow. What separates the great leaders is the ability to know when to do each. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Courageous & KindPart of my prayer every morning is that my kids will be courageous AND kind. I’m not sure I’ve ever read that or even said it often in everyday conversation, yet it keeps showing up in my head every morning.
It’s tough though, isn’t it? Courage is cool. We celebrate the arrogant confidence of the rising executive that takes measured risks to elevate his place in the company. We laud after the athlete that has the guts to take the game winning shot. Kindness is nice. We say please and thank you. We hold the door open. We like kind people. This is how society sees it, anyway. It’s not how I see it. Why Should We Care? To me, courage is vulnerability. It’s knowing you will be out of your comfort zone and going for it anyway. It’s being unsure, but giving it your absolute best effort regardless. Courage is owning your mistakes. It’s making sacrifices for others that can never be repaid. Kindness is choosing others over ourselves. It’s seeking to understand another person’s story before we create one for them. It’s giving over receiving. Kindness meets you where you are, no matter how far that is from where I am. It’s asking how you are, and listening to the answer. Courage without kindness is pretty common. People steamrolling over those in their peripheral areas with no concern for anyone but themselves is what the competitive world is all about. In these situations courage begins to look like unwavering self-belief, or confidence. However, it soon morphs into pushing others down as a means to appear elevated. Kindness without courage is also common. People all over the world are kind when it’s convenient, when it doesn’t conflict with societal norms. There’s nothing special about that. The combination of courage and kindness leads to another level that most don’t know exists. Courage and kindness embrace adversity while dispelling comparison. Together they allow us to see the good in people at their darkest times. They give us the persistence to continue, knowing that we aren’t what we used to be or what we’re going to be. Courage and kindness is the combination that lays the foundation of excellence in our lives. REAL TALK - Action Steps Becoming more courageous and kind is difficult but here are a few ideas to get you started.
Courage and kindness are a rare combination. It attracts people to you and elevates your team. The combination is a mix all leaders should be pursuing. Go ahead and throw it in that prayer tomorrow morning. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Struggle RevealsWhen you squeeze an orange, you expect to get orange juice. Seems like a reasonable assumption. You don’t squeeze an orange and hope for apple juice or lemonade. You expect orange juice.
The good news is, that’s what you get - orange juice. The bad news is, that’s what you get - the real thing. In society it’s the norm to walk around in a facade, pretending. Make-up on, hair done up, clothes nice and pressed - all to make sure we look the part. The extent we go to convince others that we have it together and are in control of our lives is mind boggling. From the cars we drive to the shoes we wear, the primary driver for most people is the answer to the question - what will others think? Social media is one of the biggest culprits of this mindset. The overwhelming majority of social media is used as a vain effort to impress others. We’re doing our best to look the part of the orange. Why Should We Care? Then struggle and adversity latch on and start squeezing. And the facade is over. There is no more pretending. Struggle and adversity always point to the truth. They reveal what the make-up, fancy hair, and designer clothes had been covering up. They have no interest in the props your last Insta post got you. So, when squeezed, what everyone thought to be an orange is now being exposed for whatever it is. The real juice will flow. There’s no faking it. That’s the beauty of adversity - it always reveals. The work to become authentic is difficult, which is why so few people truly embrace it. Yet, without it, we ourselves are unsure of the juice we’ll release when squeezed. The most interesting aspect of struggle to me is that we are drawn to hide it in ourselves, yet value and appreciate it in others. We love the longshot stories and comeback heroes that found excellence by overcoming numerous obstacles. It’s an odd relationship. REAL TALK - Action Steps Here are a few ideas to help you be more aware and intentional in those moments of adversity and struggle. They may seem simple, but they’re not easy.
Struggle is a beautiful thing. We should embrace it more than we do. It not only reveals our true self to others, but to ourselves too. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Choose Your RejectionWhat part of yourself are you willing to be rejected for?
I mean, in a world full of judgement you know you’re going to be rejected for something at sometime, right? Someone will find something they don’t like about you. You might as well count on it. Rejection may be a little strong, but you get the idea. People are always looking for ways to sort. Your beliefs serve as one of the many ways they like to do that. I should add that this isn’t always a bad thing for us. It often guides us into groups of other, similarly rejected people, that are closer in beliefs than those doing the rejecting. The willingness to separate is an issue. Rejection knows no bounds in today’s world and is the antithesis of unity and teamwork requires. As leaders, it’s important that we are secure in what we are willing to be rejected for as well as understanding and willing to withhold judgement for others. Why Should We Care? The only people that think they avoid this rejection are the ‘cold and timid souls’ Roosevelt talks about in his Man In the Arena passage - ‘they know neither victory nor defeat’ because they never stand for, or go for anything. So many people spend their life trying to appease everyone else, never considering what they believe and who they are. They become a facade, taking on the likes and dislikes of whatever company they keep at the time. I’ve seen it most prevalent in two places: middle school and the corporate world ... and both for the same reason. In middle school we think that being liked trumps everything else. So, all feelings and beliefs are subject to change. I think the same can often be said for those trying to climb the corporate ladder. This lack of commitment to something results in a commitment to nothing. REAL TALK - Action Steps You will be rejected. The good news is, you get to choose what for. Below are a few thoughts that will help you lead through it.
Rejection, like many other things in life, is neither good nor bad. How we choose to handle it will determine its value. However, the knowledge of yourself and the willingness to hold fast to who you will always be critical to your leadership and pursuit of excellence. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  You Can't Be Tough AloneI love wolves. I think they’re cool. For me, they have an aura of strength and power about them that other animals don’t. They exude courage, often hunting prey much larger than themselves. Yet, they also display massive amounts of kindness, staying behind to be with an injured packmate.
What I like most about wolves though is their toughness. I think they have mastered what tough is all about. I know most people will quickly point out that lions and tigers are bigger, stronger … more intimidating than a wolf. To which, I agree. But you don’t see a wolf in the circus, do you? No, because for a wolf it’s not about the wolf. It’s about the pack. This simple, and profound, understanding is exactly what makes the wolf the biggest badass in nature. A wolf doesn’t try to be anything except a member of the pack. They understand they are no more, or less, important than every other member. They’re undeniably tough. But, that toughness isn’t the result of superior strength, speed, or size. It’s a result of the pack. Why Should We Care? I know there are leaders out there bigger than life, bigger than their organization. They have star power, deliver charismatic speeches daily, and move people to action with their mere presence. That’s not me. I’m not that good. I need other people. And, I’m good with that. I think that’s where true toughness resides - in a group, on a team ... we always beats me. For those of you like me, that are better in a pack, the question becomes: how do we find the right pack? The answer is simple. Wolves hang with wolves. That’s what makes a pack a pack, the other wolves. We need to search for other wolves. People that have similar mindsets, pursuits, and motivations as us strengthen both the wolf and the pack. We are hopefully all aware of how impactful the people around us are on our perspective and outlook on life. REAL TALK - Action Steps The purpose and drive to turn visions into realities must align but, the roles and process for each individual does not need to be the same. As a matter of fact, it shouldn’t be. The diversity adds strength.
To think we have ever truly done anything on our own is laughable. No matter how tough we might get, it pales in comparison to our toughness within a team. Just like there is no ‘I’ in TEAM, there is no TOUGH alone. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  Given the CircumstancesLet me just say it to start with: it doesn’t matter.
The circumstances we face never serve as justification for the result. Far too often, we search for excuses when things don’t go the way we want. We want to feel better, to soothe our ego. One of the most common, easiest ways to do this is to blame our circumstances. I had no choice … what was I supposed to do … I couldn’t do anything about it … Our circumstances are such a convenient scapegoat. And, if you don’t attribute the substandard performance to your circumstances quickly enough, someone will do it for you. One of your ‘friends’ will help you justify the result. The phrase ‘given the circumstances’ immediately lowers the expectation, which is what we’re going for. It relieves us of responsibility, and makes whatever the result is more acceptable. At least we think it does. But, it doesn’t. See, we know what we are capable of. We know, regardless of what we say out loud, that the circumstances must be irrelevant. We know the standard is the standard - not the standard is the standard as long as something doesn’t make it too hard to reach it. Why Should We Care? The problem isn’t the use of our circumstances as an excuse anyway. The problem is that we feel like we need an excuse. If our focus was on the process, on testing ourselves, on constant growth; then we would see excuses for the pitiful, useless waste they are. It’s our obsession with the result that drives the need for excuses. The search for unfortunate circumstances is simply a window to the focus of our mind. Shift to a process-centered mentality and suddenly the circumstances become irrelevant. Actually, the more challenging, the more adverse, the better. The difficulty gives us more opportunity for growth, which those in love with the process cherish. When we accept the circumstances, we are freed to commit fully to the process. Only then can we perform without the fear of failure and judgement. The performance process becomes very simple.
REAL TALK - Action Steps Accepting our circumstances while maintaining the standard is a challenge for those pursuing excellence within teams or as an individual. Here are a few ideas to simplify it.
Remember, it’s not the excuse that’s the problem. The excuse is the symptom. The real issue is that we think we need to provide an excuse. When we know where home is, excuses become completely irrational because they only lead us away from it. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help!  What Are You Chasing?More is usually the answer - more wins, more money, more fame. You work for it, plan for it, and network for it but do you ever have enough? Enough wins, enough money, or enough fame? The pursuit of more is not only exhausting, it’s a waste of your time. Yea, all that time you spend “grinding” is pointless if it’s in pursuit of the wrong thing. What are the wrong things? Well, money for one. Like everything else, money isn’t inherently good or bad. It’s just money. What we choose to do with it, what we will do to get it, and our purpose for making it will determine the good or bad. Status, or fame, would be another. Similar to money, the pursuit of status will never fulfill you enough. More simply leads to the desire for more. The likes, rankings, and rewards may lead to short-term motivation and results but it doesn’t provide the substance to maintain. Happiness. That’s right, happiness. Chasing happiness is one of the surest ways to not achieve it. With happiness as your focus, comfort becomes the most logical means … and comfort kills. Happiness, like money and status, isn’t something to be pursued; it’s the byproduct of pursuing the right things. Why Should We Care? So, what are the right things to be chasing? These are going to seem simple. They’re not. Progress. That’s right, progress. One of the most motivating, inspiring things in the world is progress. The feeling that you are further along today than you were yesterday creates an undeniable energy that drives you to do it again the next day … and the next, and the next. Consistent progress is the only path to excellence. ChopChop. Contribution. When you provide value to someone or something else, you feel needed. The contribution doesn’t need to be publicized or even significant in the eyes of those outside the arena. You must feel like you contributed. That’s it. The feeling of contributing to something outside of yourself is powerful and a worthwhile chase. Meaning. For some this would fall under faith, it does for me. But, in any case, seeking to understand why you are here and what you are here to do is a noble pursuit that will lead you to a way of life that is unordinary. People who understand their meaning and purpose in life are different. You can tell from the moment you first interact with them. Their presence inspires because how they do everything is an offshoot of their purpose. The simplicity and clarity they live with is clearly the result of a fantastic chase. REAL TALK - Action Steps To focus on what you should be chasing is challenging. Most get pulled off track and down the road of the wasted pursuits. Here’s a few ideas on how to help those we lead in this chase.
The things we should be chasing seem simple. And, they are. However, simple does not mean easy. The ability and toughness to stay focused on the right chase, is available to all but only embraced by those striving for excellence. Make sure you’re running the right race. For more information on building excellence in your teams, visit us at www.bluecollargrit.com. We would love to know how we could help! |
About bcI'm a teacher, coach, and parent seeking excellence while defining success on my own terms. Archives
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