Jump in, we are going on a road trip
Jump in, we are going on a road trip
We have been planning a leadership-focused series of newsletters for a while, so here it is: the first one!
The focus of this series is to share our insights and learnings with you in an attempt to make your leadership journey more enjoyable. Not officially a leader? Not a problem! The skills we will be talking about are transferable to many other areas of life and business. See this series as part of your preparation for that leadership role you might fulfil in the future…
Great road trips are memorable because of what we experience along the way. It is not so much about the end destination as it is about the memories made. These experiences or memories could be positive, negative or a combination of the two. One of my very close friends loves road trips. When he travels anywhere, he will look for the road less travelled and will stop and explore all the hidden gems along the way – even if it means getting to the end destination later than planned. I love this about him, because he just enjoys the ride. Everyone who has travelled with him can tell you of the great experiences they’ve had on the way. He never arrives at the destination overly stressed or tired. At least it never looks that way!
When you reflect on the leadership you have experienced, does it feel like going on a road trip with my friend or more like the following scenario: You are forced into a car with a bunch of people you don’t know or like, are told to follow the rules, so we can get “there” as quickly as possible. I think that being a leader that people want to follow, has a lot to do with how people experience the ride with us. Yes, there should be some rules, and I do think that deadlines and timelines are important. BUT when people want to be in the car with us, are excited about where we are going and they enjoy the ride, they will be more willing to follow the rules, meet the deadlines and shoot the lights out much more effortlessly.
So how do we get people to enjoy the road trip with us?
- Make sure that they are as confident in your driving skills as you are in your own. This is a two-pronged requirement: First, get behind the leadership wheel. Confidence is built by doing. So, get at it. Then we need to get the people who are going with us to “vote us in” as the driver of choice. Essentially, they need to trust we can take them to where they want to be. This happens when we are aligned in what we say and what we do and when we consistently show up – even if it isn’t always at our best.
- Check your response to the unexpected: the flat tyre, the detour, the stop-and-go etc. I remember one specific family vacation, we ended up getting a flat on the way and having to spend 4 hours in the middle of nowhere. My husband immediately started making calls and plans for us to try to get back on the road as quickly as possible. He also (seemingly) remained super calm despite the obvious frustration in the delay with two toddlers in the car. This made me feel safe and calm. As a leader, you can have a similar effect on those around you when you can keep your emotions regulated under trying circumstances.
- Remind the people of where we are going – often: Remember the Shrek movie, where Donkey keeps asking “Are we there yet?”. As leaders, we must remind people where we are and how far we are from our destination. But they also need to remind people of why we are on the journey in the first place. Why it matters to them and to you.
- Make sure everyone in the car knows what they need to be doing: Apart from the driver, the second most important person on any road trip is the one in charge of the playlist. This job cannot be handled by just anybody – he or she needs to be a seasoned veteran. Get people around you using their strengths and be aware of the desire to take over and do it all yourself. Give people responsibility for what they need to do, and then hold them accountable for doing it well. As leaders, we are not going to get it right all the time. Make sure you encourage and are open to feedback in all directions.
- Experience the experience: Life and road trips are different, in that we never really arrive in life. The leadership journey is never over. So do your best not to miss the joy, fun and learning along the way!
We probably sound like a Toyota ad this week, but there you go. We are looking forward to zooming in on some specifics around leadership in the next couple of weeks. Please let us know if you have any questions or experiences about what the best leaders do.
If you would like to enhance your leadership skills, or if you would like help upskilling leaders in your organisation, get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
