10d • General discussion
Reactive Leadership Is Quietly Wrecking Your Programs
Most recreation leaders aren’t failing because they don’t care.
They’re failing because they’re too fast.
Something goes wrong and we jump:
⚫️A parent complains and we start defending the program before we even understand what happened.
⚫️A staff messes up and we correct them in front of everyone just to “send a message.”
⚫️A situation gets messy and we take over, doing it ourselves instead of slowing down long enough to coach.
It feels like leadership in the moment.
It feels like “getting things done.”
But here’s what reactive leadership actually does over time:
⚫️Staff stop telling you the full story, because they expect a reaction, not understanding.
⚫️Parents stop trusting you, because your answers feel rushed and inconsistent.
⚫️You burn out, because every problem still has to run through you.
The fix is not more passion.
It’s more pause.
This week’s rule:
Pause, then probe.
Listen long enough to see the real problem before you touch it.
Your one move for this week
Today, pick one situation that normally triggers you:
⚫️A parent complaint
⚫️A staff mistake
⚫️A scheduling or space conflict
When it happens, do this instead of reacting:
- Take a silent 3-second pause.
- Ask: “Can you walk me through what happened from your point of view?”
- Ask: “What have you already tried or thought about?”
Then decide.
Run that play once today.
Notice how the conversation changes when you lead with listening instead of speed.
Drop in the poll, then comment:
“What’s one situation this week where I will practice pausing before reacting?”
Let’s keep the momentum rolling.
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Reactive Leadership Is Quietly Wrecking Your Programs
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