347. The Leadership Mistake Almost Every Manager Makes

Key Takeaways

• Most managers make the same mistake: they manage every employee as if they’re in the same quadrant of the Skill Will Matrix.
• The Skill Will Matrix breaks people into four types:

— Q1: High Skill, Low Will

— Q2: High Skill, High Will

— Q3: Low Skill, High Will

— Q4: Low Skill, Low Will

• Great leadership is situational—how you manage should depend on where each person sits on the matrix.
• Tom Brady succeeded because someone coached his high will.
• JaMarcus Russell failed because nobody could lift his low will

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Actionable Insights

• Plot every team member on the Skill Will Matrix—don’t rely on your assumptions.
• Q1: Focus on motivation. Understand what drives them and reconnect them to purpose.
• Q2: Delegate. Give autonomy, responsibility, and guardrails.
• Q3: Coach. Train, mentor, and give structured feedback.
• Q4: Direct. Set expectations clearly, provide structure, and hold them accountable.