Farther, Faster, and Far Less Drama
Book Giveaway!!
20 copies available!!
Leave a comment on this guest post by Janice Fraser and Jason Fraser to become eligible for one of 20 complimentary copies of their new book, Farther, Faster, and Far Less Drama.
Deadline for eligibility is 04/17/2022. International winners will receive electronic version.
Effective leaders use Four Leadership Motions to advance with ease and navigate complexity. Navy SEALs use them. Even the neighborhood watch uses them.
Motions are things leaders can DO in any situation to make progress faster, farther, with less chaos. They’re like duct tape: versatile, reliable, and tenacious in the face of resistance.
THE FOUR LEADERSHIP MOTIONS
Motion 1: Orient Honestly.
Lack of clarity is a pernicious roadblock to progress.
Define the current situation fully and honestly – including the unpleasant bits leaders prefer to overlook. Leaders know how to set goals, but forget to name the complication in the current situation.
Orienting Honestly makes accelerating progress exponentially easier.
Motion 2: Value Outcomes.
When you value plans above outcomes, you can easily confuse effort with achievement.
On-time, on-budget completion of tasks and deliverables is less important than achieving the outcomes you want. Value Outcomes calls leaders to ensure outcomes (not just deliverables) are the top priority.
Motion 3: Leverage the Brains.
Great leaders know that they only see the world from their limited perspective.
They engage collaborators with varied experiences to solve problems and invent solutions. Great leaders work with people, not at people.
Motion 4: Make Durable Decisions.
This final motion reduces wasted time, effort, and patience in group decisions. You can’t know if there’s a “right decision.” Instead of seeking consensus on which choice is “best,” look for a choice that everyone can live with that makes strong progress toward the desired outcome.
What enables leaders to move farther, faster, with far less drama?
Janice and Jason Fraser are the authors of Farther, Faster, and Far Less Drama, which was released today. The book outlines their groundbreaking new leadership model that focuses on The Four Leadership Motions and empowers greater alignment and quicker decision-making. Drawing on nearly three decades of coaching hundreds of leaders and teams to achieve success, Janice is a Senior Strategist and Advisor to large organizations in becoming more innovative and agile, and she also guides several venture-funded startup companies, federal government entities, and non-profit organizations, helping them do more with less, make bold moves, and achieve extraordinary results. Jason leads a team at VMware of more than 60 product managers and designers who work with the Department of Defense and other government clients to build mission-critical software.
Very Insightful
Less drama? Just got back from the chiropractor dealing with stress issues. sign me up for a free copy please!
I definitely have a limited perspective which is why I love collaborating with varies minds! Always make room at the table for others.
Good stuff, honesty if so important, but seems to be not a high priority for many these days. Work with people, what a concept!
Practical advice
What enables leaders to move farther, faster, with far less drama?
Leverage the brains…and the hearts!
The last two motions resonate with me the most. Working with people – not at people is HUGE! Unfortunately, many leaders don’t see this and the results are awful. The employees become unengaged and sometimes, even resentful.
Then, making the decision what we can live with, is also another huge motion! We all want to make the right decisions, but it can be very difficult to navigate some of the major consequences. I’ve found, more often than not, that making a decision that is “best” for the team/organization, is one that we can all live with.
The multiple brains portion is something so many miss! I don’t know it all. It is my job to find the collective group that does.
I’m intrigued and am especially interested to read more about Motion 1.
Great Read!
Wow! So well presented. I am going to take these 4 Leadership Motions into a meeting with a CEO and his staff this morning and give you attribution, of course! The biggie is confusing effort with achievement. There’s a ton of effort (much of it wasted) with a declaration of achievement that just isn’t there. This will give us grist for the discussion mill for sure. Thank you. I so want the book!
Linking “best” with value and standards generates optimum solutions.
Short and concise about what we as transformational leaders need to do.
Great insights into the reality of leading versus managing
I am intrigued by reading more about the new leadership model that focuses on on Four Leadership Motions to assist with greater alignment and more efficient ways to assist with decision-making
Would love to read more! Leading ‘with’ people and not ‘at’ people is the root of great leadership.
Love reading and would love to dive even deeper on these concepts! The four motions sound like great guideposts to building a great organization!
Very sage advice for leaders and followers.
All 4 of these motions resonate with me as important attributes of leadership and advancing outcomes as a team. I look forward to reading the book.
So helpful and insightful! Thank you for writing.
What great concepts. So easy to get lost in the churn of the day to day in any organization. Keeping these four concepts in mind will help!
Good read, as usual. These morning tidbits give me a boost each day. I make it a point to learn something new each day whether it is an action (TikTok 😉 ), or a view/perspective. Thanks for sharing.
Really interesting – I like the new twist on leadership!
These are exactly the principles my leadership and I have been discussing to make long lasting durable changes during a major organizational redesign. I would love to read this boom.
This just proves that leadership comes from the team not the leader. The leader facilitates the leadership within the team and utilizes each persons strengths to achieve a goal. By facilitating the team and making decisions when needed, one becomes a strong leader. Great information here and applicable to work and personal life.
So good… especially #1. We miss the opportunity for success when we short #1.
Great article! The Four Leadership Motions outlined here – Orient Honestly, Value Outcomes, Leverage the Brains, and Make Durable Decisions – are indeed essential for effective leadership. Lack of clarity, prioritizing plans over outcomes, failing to engage diverse perspectives, and getting stuck in decision-making can all hinder progress and create unnecessary chaos.
I particularly appreciate the emphasis on Orienting Honestly, as it highlights the importance of acknowledging and addressing the unpleasant aspects of a situation that leaders often prefer to overlook. This kind of candid assessment is crucial for identifying and resolving challenges effectively.
The concept of Valuing Outcomes over deliverables is also spot-on. It’s not just about checking off tasks, but achieving the desired results and outcomes. Leaders should be outcome-oriented to ensure meaningful progress towards their goals.
Leveraging the Brains of diverse team members is a critical aspect of effective leadership. Recognizing that leaders have limited perspectives and actively engaging collaborators with different experiences and insights can lead to innovative solutions and better decision-making.
Lastly, the focus on Making Durable Decisions resonates with me. Instead of seeking elusive “best” decisions, finding choices that everyone can live with and that align with the desired outcomes can prevent wasted time and effort in seeking consensus.
I’m intrigued by the authors’ new leadership model outlined in their book “Farther, Faster, and Far Less Drama.” It seems like a valuable resource for leaders looking to enhance alignment, decision-making, and ultimately achieve extraordinary results
Honesty is #1 in great teams
Change leadership is definitely an art!
I would love a copy!!!!
Reminds me that good, old common sense is not so common!
Too often we want consensus thinking that is the best route, but #4 remind us that the best of plans are not perfect. The choice that meets the best outcome often turns out to better than the first plan anyway.
This so reminds me of a favorite John Wooden quote; “Be quick but don’t hurry!”
The part about coming to a decision that everyone can live with I need to work on. I’m always trying to come to a consensus with my team. I’m very interested in learning more.
Honesty is a key factor in having a cohesive team. When a leader is not trusted the breakdown of the team is sure to come. Many minds give great ideas. I reall like the idea, “can everyone live with the outcome?” We don’t always know if it is the correct choice but living with the outcome is great!!!
Great stuff. Excited to see #3 on list So many managers feel they know everything and have all the answers. Great leaders cultivate an inclusive culture. Thanks for sharing.
I’m interested in exploring this! Thank you
I have always worked with my team . . . no one works for me. I truly appreciate the diversity of perspective we get when we work together and allow for our differences. As a leader, I’m here to facilitate success. If we don’t succeed, that’s on me.
This is a very welcomed post. I tend to believe that the first 2, Orient Honestly, and value outcomes being the most critical in the series. If we do not confront business realities with an eye towards what success looks like, actions can actual be detrimental to the business. I have been involved in many teams where the objectives are murky and unclear, and all the efforts can be in vain.
I’d love to learn more about these 4 leadership motions. Motion 3 reminds me of the saying that that smartest person in the room is the room.
Great reminders!
I want to learn more about the “less drama” part!
I’ll be looking into better understanding deliverables vs outcomes and appreciate the reminder that there is not one right decision but a best option that most can live with
I like the idea of “motions.” Motion, to mean, means taking action and creating movement; doing something. It’s not just about talking, but showing how we embody these concepts through actions. I’m interested in learning if the authors give practical ways that leaders can create these motions in a meaningful way for employees.
Sounds like a very interesting read. #2 is super important and a huge item I’m focusing on this year with my board of directors. Too often they want a “roadmap” and forget that we should drive outcomes instead. It’s a struggle because if you deliver the roadmap but not the outcome they usually give you more time than if you target outcomes and progress it little by little.
Would love to read more!…As our business and market dynamics continue to evolve post “Covid”, the steps outlined make perfect sense as it clearly outlines ways to engage a team and to focus on making progress. “Managing” chaos is very topical as many colleagues are facing “new” challenges with regards to growing their business.
“Lack of clarity is a pernicious roadblock to progress”. Such a true statement in modern times where individuals are consumed/overwhelmed by everyday life and the high amounts of mental stimulation. Clarity, context and perspective are critical to making the right decisions and actions. Looking forward to reading this book
I love this statement…”When you value plans above outcomes, you can easily confuse effort with achievement.” I am probably guilty of this more than I realize as I’m motivated by checking to-dos off checklists I think I need this book!
I like the idea that we do not have to all agree completely to move forward, but that finding something we can all move forward with is helpful. Sometimes I think we try too hard to make everyone happy and momentarily sacrifice our overall mission.
Again, all great and valuable points made. This quote is key: Lack of clarity is a pernicious roadblock to progress.
The authors labeled them the four MOTIONS: Orient, Value, Leverage, and Make. Of course, preceding each motion must be thinking (or as I prefer to believe important, Considering – with a capital C because it’s so important). Considering reminds us to get to an understanding of each motion, its options, possible hurdles, … BUT the ultimate effort in each case is engagement – motion!
Yes please. This sounds great!
Gold, gold, gold … GOLD!!!!!
I love that the 4 motions are simple and easy to understand. People tend to stop listening if it takes too long to express or explain a point. They are relatable and easy to act on. I am excited to read the entire book.
The Four Leadership Motions – Orient Honestly, Value Outcomes, Leverage the Brains, and Make Durable Decisions are greatly needed for our stress filled lives with never ending demands. Their quote, “Lack of clarity is a pernicious
roadblock to progress”, is simple and so very powerful. The brain craves certainty and we have so little in our world today. Can’t wait to get the book.
School leader here. Great post, and I really like this. #1 in particular I really strive for. My question I’m currently grappling with: how to help others who may fear laying out and facing those “unpleasant bits” to get past that roadblock? I think it’s largely about creating a safe space for them to do so without judgment, and that’s what I’m working on in my leadership right now. Good food for thought here!
Great post – I especially like item 4: Look for a choice that everyone can live with that makes strong progress toward the desired outcome.
Thank you for sharing the 4 motions of leadership. Also, Enjoyed the quote -Lack of clarity is a pernicious roadblock to progress”. Looking forward to reading the book
Accomplishing Orient Honestly is a tough but necessary step. It’s easier to ignore inconvenient issues than identify and meet them head on.
Completely agree with #2 Value Outcomes. The goal of satisfaction is the proper outcome. Sometimes there is too much focus on time/cost and in the end we typically throw more resources at it to achieve the proper outcome anyway. Would love to see the book and read more. Great post!
I’ve been hoping to get a project at work moving forward but hadn’t prioritized over a bunch of other things that need to get done. Until today. In part because a conflict arose at work late last week and spilled into this week. It and numerous other things need a process for consideration that we don’t have in place. After reading these 4 steps, I feel like I have the action tool framework I need to step in and start things moving. Yea for the power of stressful situations to get things real and get things moving! Thank you for introducing us to this book, Dan–and for all the great, easily digestible information you consistently provide. I look forward to diving into this book for an even deeper understanding of how to land this work.
“Farther, Faster, and Less Drama” sounds like an excellent book that keeps it simple! Being able to focus on four motions to get the most out of your time and lead others down the right path is something all leaders can do. I look forward to reading the book to see how the authors implement the system and overcome challenges.
I firmly believe that as a leader if you think you have become the final say on what your “expertise” is, then you will be doomed to become irrelevant before everyone else!
Excited to learn more about the 4 leadership motions
#2 really resonated with me.
Great insight for anyone wanting to become a better outcome results leader.
Great advice. Excited to learn more.
Orient Honestly is solid advice.
“Define the current situation fully and honestly – including the unpleasant bits leaders prefer to overlook. ”
Great challenge for me as I look towards revamping training materials for my new folks. Might as well acknowledge the elephants in the room. They will become apparent soon enough and can be tackled/tamed with good team work
Lack of clarity results in what we call “swirl” that extends the timeline to alignment, causing significant, costly delays and frustration. Honesty is key. Too many people skirt around details that they think people don’t want to hear or accept.
Great post!
Dare I recommend great leaders do this in manner of being a servant to their team by helping to remove red tape and roadblocks? I am excited to read this book and do a deeper dive to learn more about the 4 motions.
Motion 2 stands out to me. So much more important to do it correctly to get the desired outcome than to do it quickly to meet a deadline.
Motion 1: Orienting Honestly makes accelerating progress exponentially easier – is by far the most important. Lack of clarity and clear direction can be detrimental to a team’s success.
“look for a choice that everyone can live with that makes strong progress toward the desired outcome”- I love this- choice that everyone can LIVE with
I have never heard of these “Leadership Motions” before. I love having the first one be about honesty. Every great foundation is based in truths. Also, I really have to work on not just the deliverables but desired outcomes. This was an “Ah HA!” moment for me. Thanks for the sage words and inspiration! The four Motions hang on my wall now!
I love Motion 1 – that is so often the issue with many problems – conflicting guidance, mixed messages from leaders, silos – it’s amazing we get work done some days!
So true about leveraging resources from others in the “brains” section.
So crucial to not value mere ‘process’ for love of the ‘way we’ve always done it’ — but to always fix on the character necessary for durable decisions, and outcome so that the best pathway can be nimbly chosen!
Look forward to reading this book. Seems like a critical read for leaders.
A great reminder to really look at, and prepare for, the potential roadblocks in a plan. When you acknowledge what can go wrong, you can create alternate paths to ensure the plan still meats its goal/deadline.
I learned this early on in my management career, and once I was able to acknowledge what could go wrong, I was dealing with less “fires” and was able to stay the course to completion, and on time too!
Great news for my anxiety levels for sure.
Motion #2 is my favorite ! Such an important nuance to understand for leaders.
Yes, leaders need to see other people’s point of view and then make progress towards the desired outcome. Give and take! While I may not be fully onboard with a decision, if it’s going to lead to a positive end result, I can live with it for the benefit of the team. Be flexible, keep an open mind!
Thank you Dan for another great post. I take so many of them into my supervisor meetings for discussion and sharing. This will be a great topic to dive into.
These serve as a great reminder to look at the bigger picture and de-center yourself from the decision making process. Great tools and principles for any person, not just leaders. Sounds like a very interesting read!
Solid and succinct.
Potentially impactful if applied.
Would love to read more.
“Great leaders work WITH people, not AT people.” I love that. Such sensible and practical lessons throughout this piece. Thank you.
Good stuff. C’mon, book……
Love this. Concise and on point. Motion – 3 “Know your perspective is limited and seek others’ This can be challenging when you do not have a lot of ‘inventors’ on your team. Look forward to reading the book whether I get a copy or not. Thanks!
Less drama and more productive conversations are particularly timely as we work on class assignments and placements for next year with teachers. Sign me up for a copy of the book!
I’m a big fan of Orient Honesty. I’m learning that leaders genuinely struggle with this concept, as well as Value Outcomes. Often they’re so focused on saving face/maintaining funds, which is important, but can come at the cost of actually having impact in the areas in which the organization was designed to impact.
I would love to read this book as I have recently accepted an ASM position and have already positioned myself as middleman between my coworkers and the boss…. need all the advice I can get that would help me develop my team while remaining loyal to the boss.
All of these are great points to consider when engaging with our teams and I needed to hear all of them! I tend to be very task oriented, always looking forward. Sometimes I rely too much on collaboration, which I do feel is important. I am currently looking for the balance of when to lead and when to step back and let the team lead. This book sounds very interesting!
I’m an MPA currently working through lots of interpersonal conflicts between managers and staff, and between constituents and their government regulators. Some teams are doing much better than others. The successful ones are all using these motions. The ones that are not, are getting stymied and overtime are creating derision, not reducing it. There is no question that you need come at issues from the right perspective, and employing these motions are a BIG part of that.
This article provides valuable insights on how leaders can accelerate progress, achieve desired outcomes, leverage the collective wisdom of their teams, and make durable decisions. The four motions – Orient Honestly, Value Outcomes, Leverage the Brains, and Make Durable Decisions – are easy to understand and implement, and can help leaders avoid common roadblocks and achieve success. Overall, this is a great resource for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills and achieve better results.
Always so good to read your stories and inspirations. This article had great points. I am so glad to be able to receive these daily. Great discussion.
Intrigued — especially around ‘less drama’!
Very interesting perspective. Of particular interest is the durable decisions. If the leaders are not sticking to a decision, then how can the rest of the organization feel confident in the decisions they need to make each day. Definitely worth reading this book to see what deeper insights can be gleaned.
I always value Dan’s insight, so I reviewed the summary of this book. It looks incredible and valuable to leadership. I would really love to have a copy.
Joe