Controlled Environment

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Mix of flowers

I recently stayed at the Gaylord Texan Resort for the Vistage International Conference.  I woke up early to work out and discovered the fitness room was already crowded.  I decided to take a power walk through the atrium area, which includes 4.5 acres of indoor gardens and winding waterways.   While I walked, I thought about how the controlled indoor environment allowed me to put aside any worries, and just focus on my thoughts and my workout.  I did not have to think about whether it was cold or rainy, or if any wild animals might be lurking, or if I might get lost.  I had the freedom to wander where I chose, and I felt completely safe in the knowledge that someone at the hotel was watching what was going on outside and would certainly notify me if an external threat approached.  The freedom from external worry was invigorating!

What if your employees had an opportunity to feel that same sense of freedom and peace?   What if they were able to focus on their job without distraction or worry?  What if they felt completely safe, knowing that their leaders were monitoring external threats and would notify them immediately if a threat approached?  What if they were empowered to try new ideas that might lead to better results?  Create this type of environment for your employees and watch both morale and productivity soar.

Living in Fear

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Kolymbia Sunrise

The tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut is hard to comprehend.  Most parents and children around the country are reacting as one might expect, and wondering what if that had happened to them?  Our hearts go out to the survivors and families of those who lost their lives to this horrible event.  We grieve with them, even though most of us do not personally know the individuals involved.  Rumors of copycat behavior are prevalent, and children are afraid to go to school in fear of what might happen.  Parents see their roles as keeping their children safe, and wonder if any place will ever seem safe again.

It is easy to get caught up in a mindset of fear.  Our bodies are designed to protect us from immediate threats.  Without conscious thought, we move into fight or flight.  That works well when the threat is right in front of us.  What happens when the threat is less imminent or obvious?  If we allow ourselves to dwell in fear, our bodies will continue to be in the stressful state of fight or flight.  Higher level thought is diminished (or more likely nonexistent) when that occurs, which means our ability to reason and react appropriately erodes.  As a result, people start to exhibit poor judgment and say and do things they normally would not.  They may feel “stuck” and unsure of what to do next.  It may take them longer to perform routine tasks.  Additionally, living in a state of stress impacts health and reduces the ability to achieve restful sleep.  That only adds to the vicious cycle.

I’ve observed a number of people this week who appear to be living in fear.  They are having trouble moving beyond the tragedy in Newtown, and the daily news reports are not helping matters by keeping it top of mind.  As a leader, it is important for us to gain control of our fears.  People look to us as role models.  Would you want to follow a leader who is paralyzed by fear?  True leadership entails taking control of a situation and confidently taking the first step forward, whether or not you are completely confident in the outcome you will achieve.

Is it ok for a leader to show emotion?  Of course, as long as the level of emotion is appropriate to the situation.  A good leader acknowledges their emotion and the emotions of their employees, and then helps the team focus on what it will take to move beyond fight or flight.  A strong leader will lead the team forward to create a better future for us all.

A Culture of Kindness

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A woman came up to me in a restroom at a Chamber of Commerce building recently and, with tears in her eyes, asked if I could spare 92 cents.  She seemed very sincere when she explained that her daughter had called and told her she needed her since she was very sick.  The woman hopped on her bicycle and was trying to travel the 30 miles to her daughter’s house when she realized she could not make it the entire way.  She was 92 cents short of having enough bus fare to get to her daughter.  My heart went out to her, and I handed her a dollar.  She practically fell to the floor in relief and thanked me profusely through her tears.  I felt terrific the rest of the day.

Please be aware that I do not typically give handouts to strangers.  I see people on the streets asking for help almost every day, and rarely do anything about it.  Maybe it’s because those situations seem less random, or because I generally prefer to give to organizations rather than individuals.  Whatever the reason, this particular situation was unique.

Have you ever given or received a random act of kindness?  How did it make you feel?  My experience with the woman made me wonder what could happen if a company implemented an act of kindness week.  What if each and every employee was asked to perform a kind act for a vendor, a customer or a co-worker every day for a full week?  What if you praised or rewarded some of the kindest acts in front of the team?  Do you think that might encourage more of that behavior?  Just imagine the potential positive impact!  If those acts of kindness became a habit and part of your company culture, do you think your company might prosper?  Why not give it a try and let me know how it goes?

photo by: Jeff Kubina

Leadership Lessons Learned From a Great White Egret

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One Saturday morning, we discovered that a great white egret was stuck in one of our large oak trees, forty feet up.  Its leg was caught on a limb and it was struggling mightily to free itself.  We called every organization that could possibly help, and late in the day, finally located a tree trimmer who was willing to attempt a rescue using ropes and harnesses.  Sadly it was too late for the magnificent bird.

Leadership lessons:

  1. Nonchalance – How often do you take routine tasks for granted?  Had the bird paid closer attention to its landing, it may not have gotten its foot caught.
  2. Impatience – Do you sometimes push ahead and try to fix a problem quickly on your own, only to discover that you made matters worse?  By trying to free its leg, the bird ended up getting the other leg caught as well.
  3. Pride – Many leaders think they can solve problems on their own.  Even when others offer assistance, they turn it down.  The results are often less than ideal.
  4. Independence – Our bird was alone, even though egrets often roost together.  Perhaps another egret could have used its beak to help free the foot.  Often a team approach works best.
  5. Mentor – Sometimes you get stuck.  Who can you call for advice and assistance?

Great leaders are always growing.  What lessons are you learning from your experiences?