In the talent economy we currently exist in, you must have 10X leaders on your team. Your customers demand it. Your parishioners demand it. The market demands it. Interestingly, even those on your team demand it or they will seek opportunities elsewhere.
So what are 10X Leaders?
In their excellent new book Game Changer: How To Be 10X In The Talent Economy, authors Michael Solomon and Rishon Blumberg describe a 10Xer as “that rare person with outsized skills, an abnormally positive attitude, and lots of vision, balanced with enough humility to pivot when great advice comes along. When great advice doesn’t come organically, the 10xer solicits it, knowing where and how to look for feedback that will help most. Deep curiosity and enthusiasm are always part of the 10xer’s game-changing makeup. 10xers often work harder and smarter than everyone else in the room. From their perspective, inefficiency is just a bug they’d love to squash. They see a world filled with opportunities and can move on to the next available own when things don’t go their way. They are fundamentally reasonable and willing to accept responsibility for their role in outcomes. In essence, the 10xer alone has the raw materials to go from very good to great to excellent to sublime and beyond.”
Does this describe the people who make up your organization? Let’s be honest, that is a high bar to reach.
If not and you are looking to train your team in the attitudes of a 10Xer, the following are 20 Differences Between A 0X Leader And A 10X Leader as defined by Solomon and Blumberg. You will want to share this chart with everyone in your organization and ask, “Are you a 0X or a 10X leader and why?”
| A 0X Leader | A 10X Leader |
| Doesn’t have a meaningful desire to grow, learn, or evaluate their own behavior. | Is eager for feedback, learning, and growth. |
| Will undermine others to save face. | Is not afraid to make changes to themselves. |
| Does not consider others very often | Wants to support others and shows integrity for their word. |
| Blames others publically and privately and tries to defliect responsibility with excuses and rationalizations. | Takes responsibility for as much as he or she is responsible for. |
| Doesn’t plan much or at all. | Connects values to their work. Is always looking ahead to anticpate and course-correct. |
| Sees problems as insurmountable and makes excuses. | Sees problems as challenges to overcome and learn from. |
| Focuses on problems. | Focuses on solutions. |
| Lacks curiosity and feels he or she knows enough. | Is deeply curious and open-minded. |
| Thinks he or she is right, even in the face of contradictory data. | Loves data and understands its value. |
| Communicates poorly, in part because he or she can’t think compassionately about the other. | Understands people and knows how to relate and communicate ideas. |
| Does not have the forethought to see the consequences of their actions. | Uses S.M.A.R.T. goals of an equivalent. |
| Has no sense or expression of gratitude, and feels very entitled. | Balances ambition and gratitude. |
| Refuses support and guidance. | Accepts and seeks guidance and help. |
| Often obfuscates the truth to protect himself. | Balances communication with honesty and diplomacy. |
| Has an overinflated sense of capabilities, greatly disproportionate to reality. | Knows and respects their limitations. |
| Creates conflict wherever he or she goes and is perceived as unreasonable by most. | Is reasonable and perceived that way by others. |
| Is often not happy in or out of work. | Has a work/life balance that brings them some level of joy and satisfaction. |
| Is lazy and motivated by fear and self-perservation. | Is proactive. |
| Repeats mistakes because he or she cannot acknowledge any role in them. | Learns from mistakes because he or she owns them. |
| Often has knee-jerk reactions without considering other perspectives or feelings. | Displays a willingness to try on other perspectives and pauses before reacting. |
What are two or three things you can work on TODAY to become a 10X leader? What are two to three things you use to train a member of your team to become 10Xer as well?
Once again, this is a great book. Click HERE or on the image above to order your copy.
Speaking of 10X leaders, during the 2019 college football season, fans were given a gift when legendary coach Urban Meyer joined Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff preview show as a studio analyst. As a three-time national championship head coach, Coach Meyer’s ability to deliver complex leadership principles with brevity and concise terminology created a compelling experience for educated and “smart” fans. Throughout the season, I captured Coach Meyer’s best leadership quotes from this weekly show. I wanted to make them available to you in this new complimentary resource Urban Meyer 2019 Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff Ebook.
The contents includes Winning Cultures, 3 Types of Teams, Strategy and Competition, Recruiting, Rivalry Games, Personal Performance, and much, much more. Click HERE to get your complimentary copy today! Trust me – this resource will make you a better leader.