Hank The Tank
As shown in the video above, a 500-lb black bear nicknamed Hank The Tank was accused of breaking into over 150 Lake Tahoe Homes. But after DNA testing, it was discovered the perpetrators were actually three black bears, not just Hank.
Lt. Jeff Roberson told NBC News, “They’re so used to people and being fed year-round they don’t really do the bear stuff.” Well that’s an understatement! Bears would normally break windows and knock down fences in an effort to get food, which these did. But like any serial criminal, these bears escalated their behavior to operating car doors and opening french doors.
Rather than getting angry or frightened, local resident Ann Bryant said of Hank, “He’s only doing what he’s been taught to do.”
The Miami Hurricanes
Then-University of Miami Hurricane head coach Jimmy Johnson once indicated to others when asked about the team’s on-field disrespectful behavior was that he, the team’s leader, was either coaching it or allowing it to happen.
What we learn from the black bear Hank The Tank and the 1980’s Hurricanes is that if a team or individual is consistently acting up, if they are disrespectful and even rebellious, it is the leader’s fault.
They are only doing what they have been taught to do. They are only doing what they have been coached or allowed to do.
Judas
It has been said every leader has a Judas close enough to kiss them on the cheek.
This post will be emailed to leaders on a Monday morning. As they open up this article and begin reading its content, there will be a pit in their stomach. Anxiety will be filling their emotions.
They have team members working actively against them right now. Every conversation becomes an argument. Simple problems become complex issues. Everything is a struggle. Disrespect has become normative.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Because the leader doesn’t want to have the hard conversations or make difficult decisions, the problem worsens. Disrespect escalates.
The primary reason leaders have these disrespectful employees is because they have allowed it. But there is a solution…
The Solution
The following is a 5-step process leaders can take to address disrespectful behavior:
- Own it. Leaders must be self-aware enough to know they are the problem because they have either coached it or allowed it.
- Address it. Pull your disrespectful party or parties in. Say there is a problem which you are taking ownership of but need their help to fix. Your culture and DNA have become unhealthy. And it stops today. There will be no more disrespectful or rebellious behavior.
- Improve. As a leader, get better yourself. Model the behavior you wish to see in others. And show grace as they hopefully follow suit and change their behavior as well.
- Reward improvement. What gets rewarded gets repeated. If people improve, show your appreciation. Celebrate improvement. Your message is getting through.
- Make the hard decision. If the problem continues and people don’t improve, remove the disrespectful individual. Free them up to go to an organization they can respect.
This approach is humble, loving, patient, gracious, and decisive if needed.
As NBC News reported, Hank The Tank and the other black bears will likely be relocated. Your consistently disrespectful people likely should be as well.
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