I've been sassy for as long as I can remember. I have the childhood photograph to prove it.
A little cheeky. A little irreverent. Never particularly intimidated by authority.
And I think it's served me rather well.
But here's what I've learned over four decades in leadership: the real payoff isn't just being willing to challenge others. It's being willing to let others challenge you.
Some of the people who made the biggest difference in the organizations I led weren't afraid to question my decisions, challenge my thinking or tell me when they thought I was wrong.
They didn't always do it elegantly. Sometimes they made me uncomfortable. Occasionally, they made me laugh.
But they made me think.
I've learned to be more concerned about a room full of agreement than a room full of spirited debate.
Of course, sass isn't always a virtue. There's a difference between challenging ideas and simply being provocative. And some of the most valuable challenges come from quiet, thoughtful people who would never describe themselves as sassy.
So, how do we stay SASSY in the best possible way?
S - Speak up (and invite others to). A different point of view deserves to be heard.
A - Ask why (or why not?). Just because we've always done it that way doesn't mean we should.
S - Stay curious. Especially when someone challenges your brilliant idea.
S - Smile. A little humour can make difficult conversations easier.
Y - Yield to another perspective. Let it expand your thinking.
The best sass comes with curiosity, confidence and respect for others.
And here's the thing - the more senior you become, the more you need people willing to challenge you.
So be a little sassy. And make sure the people around you know they can be too.
Just don't confuse it with SaaS. I've had quite enough of that in my career.
