People Are Messy: It’s a Feature Not a Bug
Have you ever thought to yourself, “Wow, this leadership role would be so much easier if people were just logical and had some common sense”?
Well, I think we all have.
But here’s why that train of thought is SO flawed.
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Some Leaders Don’t Like Messiness
“Humans are a uniquely brilliant species. And the same things that make us brilliant also make us messy.
One of the reasons a lot of people, and organizations, like AI is that it removes that messiness. With AI, I don’t have to socially interact with it. I don’t have to make sure it has food, water, or a washroom break. I don’t have to manage gossip, emotions, or negativity. And, best of all, I can train it to think almost exactly the way I do.
Sounds ideal, right?
But if we want innovation, creativity, and a better world for actual human beings — w then we have to embrace the messy, unpredictable, awkward side – of PEOPLE.
Our Messiness Is What Makes Us Brilliant
Yes, we have emotions. We have instincts. We have love, lust, ambition, and kindness. We have flashes of creativity that come from an infinite mix of life experience, culture, memory, and mood. In other words, the MESS is part of the bargain.
Whenever I trained new people leaders, the first thing I always noticed was how quickly they got frustrated when their team members didn’t think the same way they did— not realizing that this difference is often the defining STRENGTH of a diverse team.
We need to face it. People don’t think the same way. What seems like common sense to me — based on my background, and my personality — might seem ridiculous to you. And vice versa.
That’s why people leaders exist. We’re here to offer vision and create common ground.
If You Lead People, Handling Messiness is Your Job
I often tell new leaders this:
“Yes, your job is easier when employees don’t get in the way. But without those employees, you wouldn’t havea leadership job at all.”
Messiness is not a bug. It’s a feature.
And embracing it is where real leadership begins.
Want to help your team or leadership audience move from knowing to doing? Check out my keynote, This Might Get Awkward, perfect for building confidence in uncomfortable leadership moments.