Roger: Do you ever feel like your leadership journey is more 'management mess' than 'leadership success'? Tackling the day-to-day chaos while trying to inspire your team can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start to make real progress when you feel like you're just cleaning up messes? Roger: Scott Jeffrey Miller’s book, "Management Mess to Leadership Success," argues the path isn't about avoiding the mess or pretending you have it all figured out. The core idea is this: True leadership growth comes from intentionally confronting your flaws and systematically working through the inevitable messes with humility and specific strategies. Think of it like transforming a cluttered workshop into a high-functioning space. You can't just wish the mess away; you need to acknowledge it, grab the right tools – leadership practices – and get your hands dirty sorting things out. The 'one thing' to remember is that success isn't about perfection; it's about progress through the mess, using each challenge as a stepping stone. Roger: So, how do we start sorting through that leadership mess? It begins with the foundation of humility. Miller shares a cringe-worthy early mistake: promoted to lead former peers, he reacted to their tardiness by dramatically throwing employment ads at them. It backfired, destroying trust. He learned that real humility isn't weakness; it's knowing you don't have all the answers and valuing others' contributions. As Stephen Covey said, be more concerned with what's right than being right. Are you making space for others, or does your ego dominate? Roger: This connects directly to listening first and making it safe to tell the truth. Miller admits he used to be a chronic interrupter. Experience taught him the power of truly listening – focusing completely on understanding, not just waiting to speak. How often does feedback feel like an ambush? Leaders must cultivate an environment where people can share concerns or constructive criticism without fear. If your team only brings good news, you might have a safety problem. Actively solicit feedback, especially the tough stuff, and receive it without getting defensive. Roger: Building on this, leaders need an abundance mindset. A colleague once confronted Miller about overshadowing others. This revealed how a scarcity mentality – believing recognition is limited – damages teams. Leaders operating from abundance freely celebrate others, knowing shared success elevates everyone. Finally, to ensure all this effort translates into impact, focus on identifying and acting on Wildly Important Goals – or WIGs. It’s easy to be busy but not productive. Define the 1-2 goals that are absolutely critical. If these aren't achieved, nothing else matters as much. Frame them clearly, like "Increase client retention from 84% to 91% by December 31st," and align team actions directly towards them, filtering out distractions. Roger: Why read "Management Mess to Leadership Success"? Because it skips the platitudes, offering relatable, actionable strategies born from real mistakes. It normalizes the 'mess' and gives you a practical toolkit to navigate it with authenticity. Roger: Here’s your immediate action step: Choose one leadership area where you know you need improvement – maybe listening more attentively or focusing on fewer priorities. Then, instead of hiding it, acknowledge it openly with your team this week. Say something like, "I'm working on X. If you see me slipping, please gently point it out." This vulnerability accelerates your growth and builds trust. Roger: This has been Roger for MBA in 5. Go make an impact.