You put your values in
You take your values out
You preach about culture
Then you twist it all about
You do the Leadership Hokey Pokey
And you spin your team around…
That’s what it’s all about?
Nope. That’s what confusion is all about.
Let’s be real: Inconsistent leadership doesn’t inspire confidence – it creates chaos.
One day you’re fired up about systems. The next day you’re rewriting the vision. Last week you said team culture is everything, but now the only thing getting attention is pushing production to add better numbers to the board.
This kind of leadership keeps people guessing. And when your team is constantly guessing, they stop trusting. Not because they don’t like you. Not because they don’t believe in the mission. But because the rules of engagement keep changing.
Let me share a bit of my own story here.
I’m a visionary. Not just a “dream it up and forget it” kind of guy. I study, I grow, I surround myself with some epic people, and I’m obsessed with being better every single day. I read, I listen, I challenge myself to think bigger. That sounds great on paper… but it comes with a dark side: consistency is flippin hard!
When you’re the idea person, there’s always something new on your radar. A new framework. A new habit. A new way to lead. And before you know it, you’re leading your team in circles without even realizing it.
I’ve had to learn the hard way that momentum doesn’t come from starting something – it comes from sticking with something.
So I made a rule for myself: Don’t let anything leave my mouth or hit my team’s radar unless it’s already somewhat halfway baked and moving with some momentum. Because if I don’t anchor to that, I’ll whip out a new strategy every week and unintentionally jerk my team around like a ride at a carnival.
Here’s the truth I’ve learned: Your team can handle a lot of things – but inconsistency isn’t one of them.
They’ll give you grace when you mess up. They’ll show up when things are hard. But they won’t follow someone who constantly changes the playbook mid-game.
Clarity is kindness. Consistency is credibility.
If you say you value accountability, you better not flinch when it’s time to have hard conversations.
If you say culture matters, don’t let your top performers poison it without any consequences.
If you say you’re building leaders, don’t micromanage every single decision.
Want to build trust? Stay consistent.
Want to build momentum? Finish what you start.
Want to build a great culture? Walk the talk.
You have to stop dancing around what you believe. Put both feet in.
Live it. Speak it. Model it. Repeat it. Over and over and over.
No more Hokey Pokey leadership.
Because at the end of the day, your team doesn’t need just another motivational speech. They just need a consistent you.
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
— John C. Maxwell