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The Disappointment Frontier

Protecting teams never works out well in the end. Instead, great managers keep the void between teams and reality to a minimum.

During the interview she referenced a quote that I’d forgotten about until then, that: “ leadership is disappointing people at a rate they can absorb “, which is typically attributed to Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky. This behaviour shrinks the disappointment frontier because the member of staff is already aware that there is a chance that they won’t get the promotion, and they can subsequently prepare for that eventuality with your help. Overcommunication, transparency, and a clear delineation between what you can and can’t control will help you navigate the disappointment frontier bridging your team’s world and the external reality.

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