I was sitting at the kitchen table. I had gotten up later that day and I was wrapping up my morning routine when the first one came.
It wasn’t a real one, but I was in so much shock it could have been.
My thirteen-year-old came straight to me and gave me a hug. I almost died on the spot. This is the child that says “ok” whenever I tell him I love him.
I was about to go workout but I knew he developed a new habit of going for a run in the morning. I asked if he wanted me to go with him. He waited about five minutes or so while I loosened up my old body and then we walked to the neighborhood park down the block.
The Second One
We start off and he flies ahead of me and I am thinking . . .
I am going to die if I try to hold his pace.
Since I wouldn’t mind living a little longer, (especially since we were about to leave on a vacation for the first time since being locked down for months) I held my pace and plodded along until my breathing and heart-rate were at a sustainable pace.
Although I did not have either heart attack I reflect on this experience and see a few leadership principles for many areas of life.
Adapt
I am a person of routine who sometimes resists change. When my son came down showing affection I knew I might have an opportunity and because I saw it, I made the offer to run with him. I’ll explain why in a minute.
As leaders we must adapt. This is essential now in these ever-changing times more than ever. We have ways we do business and routines to lead ourselves, but we must ask if they serve us or if a momentary or permanent change can serve a greater good.
Connect
I said I’d tell you why I made the offer to run. For me to lead my son well, or anyone, I must have a strong relationship with them. I saw I had an opportunity to connect with my son doing what he wanted. Yes, this aligned with my goal of getting exercise, but it was in the way he normally did it.
Leaders have the vision of where everyone is going and see what tasks need accomplished. The reality is vision will never come to fulfillment without a team. A team of people accomplishes the dream. As leaders we may have to intentionally slow down to connect and meet our team in a way that matters to them. This strategic and genuine investment will provide a long-term gain.
Long Game
Like I said, my son shot off at the beginning of the run, but as we were finishing the first lap I was right beside him. After the first turn of the second lap . . . I was ahead. What enabled me to do this since I am three decades older? Thinking like a turtle.
Change occurs fast and we must take hold of opportunities, but as the fable goes . . . slow and steady wins the race. I knew my pace and consistency would eventually pay off (and trust me my competitive side did not want him to beat me). This reminds me of Jim Collins principle of great companies that he discusses in his book Good to Great:
“Tremendous power exists in the fact of continued improvement and delivery of results.”
As I ran I was continually trying to get a little closer and each step got me closer to the result. As leaders we must consistently and steadily grow ourselves and our teams to get the winning result we want. We must hold our long-term vision clearly in our minds and the minds of those we lead.
What about you? Where do you need to adapt, connect, or become more consistent? Need help thinking into this with your team? Contact me and I’d love to help you and your team grow their leadership. Lead Well.
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