Course 2: Becoming a 7 Cups Leader - (Discussion #1) Welcome to Course 2!

@DayDreamWithYou

Thanks for the detailed post on this! I enjoyed reading this!

Hi @DayDreamWithYou ​​​​! I love how well thought out and detailed your response is. I really enjoyed reading it and agree with the points you brought up. Well done!

What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of these? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?

If I have an imbalance of these, I think that work would suffer, as well as personal fulfillment. If I had too low expectations, I would not thrive as I would never set a higher bar. If I had too low warmth, I would not have the support system necessary for success.

Having too little warmth or too low expecations affects the community because it creates an imbalance in myself. If I am unbalanced, then the community does not get the best work that I can do. It also impacts work with fellow leaders because with too little warmth, I may end up burned out and not be able to hold up my end of the bargain. If I have too low expectations, we cannot build each other up as leaders to grow.

@EvelyneRose

Working with you here in the leadership program and outside of this program, I can say that you have mastered the balance of high expectations and high warmth.

@PeaceLoveandPaws

Aw thanks so much Paws!

@EvelyneRose

Brilliant Answer <3

Wish you good luck!

@EvelyneRose Awesome answer

@EvelyneRose

Love your answers ❤️ Very on-point and totally agreed.

See you around! 😊

@EvelyneRose

Very correct about how the two imbalances of each side would impact you Evelyne!

Very descriptive meaningful answers

@Heather225

Question: What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of these? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?

I think having an imbalance of expectations and warmth as a 7 Cups leader will negatively impact the community and the teams that I work on. If a leader has too low expectations, then it would be difficult to achieve any growth in a community as the expectations would easily be met, leading to low effort and low participation. As well, having too low expectations will make it difficult to achieve goals when working as a team with fellow leaders, and also allow for unprofessional behavior. If a leader has too little warmth, then it would difficult to build a community at all. Communities are built on people and the interactions between them, and without warmth, it will be difficult to foster a sense of welcoming and create a positive atmosphere necessary for a community. Similarly, having too little warmth will negatively impact how you work with fellow leaders, taking away from the sense of togetherness, teamwork, and collaboration that helps projects succeed.

@IvyL

Ohh I like this answer Ivy. Nice!

@VioletVenom awesome answer

Question: What do you think happens if you a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of these? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?

Expectations need warmth, we cannot expect others to put their spare time to projects and roles if we do not welcome them warmly and be a pleasure to work with. People need high warmth, this builds confidence and helps others to grow. If I have high expectations and high warmth then I feel like I am achieving something and building something worthwhile.

If a leader has low expectations - which can sometimes come as a prelude to burn-out - then the role is diminished and suffers from that lack of care and attention that is often missing when expectations drop.

If a leader has low warmth, well then not many will enjoy working with them or being on their team! People will not give their best if there is no warmth. They will sit and shiver on the outskirts of the role or team until someone new comes along that is high expectation/high warmth and full of beans with enthusiasm for the role or project.

Listening - One Step At A Time!

@MistyMagic The first thing you said about spare time really resonated with me. If someone's volunteering and trying their best to do something helpful and giving of their own personal time/energy, and then they're treated coldly or it's just a tense/strained experience, then I can feel how that would be really discouraging, exhausting, or frustrating.

I'm really appreciative of the things you've given. You've been instrumental in creating some incredible resources that I and many other listeners are using daily... and that's just what you've done that I happen to be familiar with, which is probably just the tip of the iceberg. Thank you.

@QuietMagic Thank-you for those kinds words.

Listening - One Step At A Time!

@MistyMagic I totally agree with this! I feel as though my workplace doesn't have a good sense of warmth and therefore, I don't feel like I give my all because no one really cares.

@Heather225

A) Low expectations and high warmth:

1 - this will impact the community because not much will be done in terms of developing, helping and progressing the community.

2 - this will impact how I work with fellow leaders because a lack of expectations such as professionalism could create and unsafe environment. In addition to this, we wouldnt be able to work as a team very well due to the fact that we arent set expectations so may not know how to help each other in terms of workload.

B) High expectations and low warmth:

1 - this will impact the community because the leaders may burn out as we wouldnt feel cared for so the services that we provide to people would weaken in quality and enthusiasm.

2 - this would impact how I would work with fellow leaders because there wouldnt be a sense of a team or support system.

@bookworm274

Awwe I love how you answered!

@bookworm274

Awesome reflection!

I agree

@Heather225 im not sure if these posts from August posting should be in July cohort not sure if you noticed that

Question: What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of these? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?

it ill deeply affect coommunity if too little warmth they will feel under valued not welcomed and low expectations will mean chaos i feel how it will impact working with fellow leaders is somewhat similar to wat i said above

@CaringBrit

Brit! I totally agree with all of what you said. We don't want our community to feel undervalued- they'll leave otherwise. If we began as a low warmth site, we would've never existed to where we are now.

@Heather225

the system becomes uncertain if there is unbalance, the confidence is upset then. since everybody would like to lean on stable main reason. important the tall expectation the magbízhatóság and because of the stability. important collaborating with the co-leaders, because this is a team and we must not pull each other down.

@Mankka You're right--7 Cups is as much of a community as it is a team!

@Heather225

What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of these?

The quality and efficiency of the team depends on a leader. So an imbalance in high expectation and high warmth in a leader would result in a team that do not fulfil the actual potential it has or a team that do not grow much personally and professionally, none of which is desirable. As a leader, I see it as my duty and responsibity to do maximum focused and efficient work at the same time enhance the team's growth.

How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact : 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?

1. In a community, too low expectation would cause a decrease in its growth. High expectations are needed in a comunity for its members to out perform themselves. While too low warmth creates an undesirable environment for the members of they community where they do not thrive.

2. Low expectation from my side would negatively impact my work with my fellow leaders as i do not keep up to a certain quality of work that is required. While low warmth from my side would create a bad relationship with my fellow leaders, where there is general misunderstanding between us and they do not feel comfortable with me that would negatively effect the efficiency and quality work to be done.

@positivePumpkin22

u explianed the situations and the effect very well pumpkin,

@blissart thank you bliss. <3

@Heather225

What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of these? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?

High expectancy with little warmth creates an atmosphere of negativity for both the community and the leaders I work with. I equate this type imbalance, from personal experience, with micromanagement, non-constructive criticisms, and a feeling of unease that my position may be in constant jeopardy and/or that I am just seat filler with no name. High turn over and unfulfilled employees/listeners/leaders is a direct effect of this kind of environment.

High warmth with low expectations creates chaos. In my personal experience, this kind of environment leads to resentments. Someone has to be in charge and it's usually an employee who takes on the responsibility of taking care of critical tasks with little support from the team but lost of criticism in the way things are being cared for. Though employee longevity is to be expected in this atmosphere, the ones who do take responsibility will leave when the next opportunity becomes available. It's unrealistic to expect a business or a relationship to survive when it is always play time.

Finding the right balance will encourage team members to continue lasting relationships with me, would make someone more likely to reach out to me for help, guidance, and support, and, in maintaining high expectations of myself, would make me a dependable and trustworthy person to work with.

@PeaceLoveandPaws

You're one of the few leaders here who creates that balance of high expectations and high warmth for your team and team members

@CheeryMango

That means so much to me. Thank you!

@PeaceLoveandPaws

You're welcome Paws

@PeaceLoveandPaws That's a really good point that in a low-expectations environment, there might still be someone with a high-expectations mindset who's trying to heroically take on the bulk of the work and doing this with growing frustration that everyone else is sort of playing poker while the ship is sinking.

That makes sense what you're saying about low warmth leading to turnover. It doesn't inspire people to want to stay if the attitude is to wring people dry and then on the way out the door the reaction is sort of like:

Hmm... yes it's certainly regrettable that you had a mental breakdown. Sadly, that's to be expected. You see, when you've been in the business as long as I have, you come to understand these things. Employees only have a limited shelf life. They keep trying to design a better product, but... [sighs and shakes head sorrowfully] no such luck yet. [suddenly perks up] Well, I guess we'll just have to go find another fresh/untapped human resource to take your place. I suppose we can do the Parting Gift now. [clears throat and begins reading from a laminated sheet of paper] Thank you, Insert Name Here, for your service. You have been a valued asset and your Insert Duration of Employment of loyalty will not be forgotten. As a token of our appreciation, here is some company stationary and a complementary tote bag.

@QuietMagic

You must have been working at the bank with me, lol. Sadly, there was no stationary.

@PeaceLoveandPaws

completely agree with you here especially low expectation high warmth bring resentment. Everyone needs to work to their best ability and help out others instead of putting all responsibility on one.

@PeaceLoveandPaws

Hey paws! I agree with your observations!

Yay Course 2!

What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of these? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact:1.) the community: 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?

Having too low of expectations means community wouldn't be able to trust you with being reliable and that would harm the growth of the community & your own. Too little warmth would lead to you being less approachable and might harm the supportiveness & positivity of the community. It creates an imbalance in the community which isn't good.

@River I couldn't agree more with you! Overall, I think it is safe to say that low expectations / low warmth yields in a disruption of what the 7 Cups community stands for.

What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of these? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?

Having an imbalance can be really harmful.

The part I've always personally loved about 7cups is how it does find that balance of high expectations and high warmth. I like to think we can't have one without the other. If we are lacking in one, the outcome is chaotic.

It helps the community stay engaged, its closely tied to expectations. Warmth plays its part too. Helps it grow and reach more goals. And keep coming back and supporting itself.

It impacts relationships with other leaders too. Warmth is a key factor in this. Do I show trust and support, and do I get that back? Am I accountable and staying kind? Expectations helps out in this too.

@AstronomySkies

I totally agree we can't have one without the other. If we are lacking in one, the outcome is chaotic. warmth

@AstronomySkies

I like the way you implied "what goes around, comes around" and so if I give love and support, then in return I receive love and support, creating an endless cycle of love and support!