STFA: The Acronym That Will Change Your Leadership Game

Leadership advice, if you’ll indulge me, tends to be a bit like airline safety demonstrations: repetitive, ignored, and mildly patronizing. “Have a vision,” they say. “Be a servant leader,” they implore. But in the real world, where emails breed faster than rabbits and your team just accidentally deleted the file (you know the one), what you need is less “visionary” and more “practical.”

Enter STFA: Set, Teach, Follow-up, and (drumroll, please) Accountability or Accolades. It’s simple, it’s actionable, and it sounds just fancy enough to be worth reading about. Let me break it down for you like a seasoned tour guide walking you through a slightly absurd, but wildly fascinating, museum exhibit.

S: Set the Expectation

Setting expectations is leadership’s equivalent of getting everyone on the same map before the road trip. Without it, people start arguing over whether they’re heading to a beach or a mountain.

But here’s the kicker: you have to be unreasonably clear. Say it plainly, say it twice, and then say it in writing. If you want a report on Friday, don’t say, “Can you get this done sometime this week?” That’s how you end up receiving something on Sunday evening with a file name like “Final_FINAL_v4_FORREAL_THIS_TIME.docx.”

Instead, say, “I need a five-page report with bullet points, graphs, and a witty summary on my desk by 3:00 p.m. Friday. Thanks.” Voila! They know the destination, the timeline, and the vibe.

T: Teach How to Accomplish It

Ah, teaching. The lost art of assuming people might not know what you know. (Shocking, I know.) Leadership isn’t about saying, “Figure it out,” and retreating to your corner office like an omniscient wizard. It’s about showing your team how to slay the metaphorical dragon.

If the task involves software they’ve never used or navigating a process you invented after three cups of coffee, don’t just toss them into the deep end. Give them a quick tutorial, share a cheat sheet, or heck, screen-record a walkthrough. Remember, your people can’t exceed expectations if they don’t know how to meet them in the first place.

F: Follow Up

Here’s a hot take: following up isn’t micromanaging; it’s caring. Let me say it louder for the managers in the back. Following up isn’t micromanaging; it’s caring.

Now, there’s a fine line here. Asking “How’s the report coming along?” six times in one day will make your team fantasize about throwing your laptop into a lake. But checking in at logical intervals—especially when the task is complex or high-stakes—signals that you’re invested.

It’s also an opportunity to course-correct. If they’re veering off-track, this is your chance to steer them back before it’s too late. Think of yourself as the GPS, calmly rerouting when the car inexplicably heads toward a Taco Bell instead of the interstate.

A: Accountability or Accolades

And now, the crescendo of leadership: holding people accountable or showering them with accolades. Both are equally important, though one is admittedly more fun.

If the task wasn’t completed, or worse, it was done so poorly that it actively created new problems, address it. Quickly, directly, and with a firm but empathetic tone. “Hey, this missed the mark, and here’s why. Let’s talk about how to avoid this next time.” Accountability isn’t about punishment; it’s about clarity and growth.

But if they nailed it—oh, my friend, you’d better make a scene about it. Write a thank-you email and CC their boss. Mention their brilliance in the next team meeting. Buy them a coffee, or, if the budget allows, one of those unnecessarily fancy donuts. Recognition is free, and it works wonders.

Why STFA Works

STFA isn’t revolutionary—it’s just organized common sense. But in the chaotic maelstrom of modern management, it’s easy to forget the basics.

By setting clear expectations, teaching people how to succeed, following up to show you care, and wrapping it all up with accountability or accolades, you create a culture of clarity, support, and motivation.

So go forth, my friend. Lead with STFA. And maybe, just maybe, your team won’t fantasize about your laptop’s aquatic adventures.