What's Your Proximity: Lead Your Team Whether it's Calm or Tumultuous
After an early morning flight, I found myself preparing for my next session with the beautiful Atlantic Ocean in view on Amelia Island. I could hear the waves splashing onto the shore along with the quietness of the beach. This particular Tuesday afternoon was about as peaceful as it gets.
The ocean is mind blowing. The rip tide signs were out that morning. From a distance, the ocean is so peaceful and calming. However, when I stepped in, the water was freezing. The cold water iced my veins. and, if I went a few steps further, the rip tide would try to pull me out and under.
It’s amazing how something can seem so peaceful from afar, but, up close, it’s tumultuous. Is it fair to say that our perspective is determined by our proximity?
Does this ever play out?
How many new leaders have joined your award-winning organizations and after the “honeymoon” period, they feel like they waded into a riptide?
How many of leaders stay on the shore strategizing and closing deals without realizing the managers and frontline team members feel like they are holding on for dear life just trying to stay afloat?
How many of us have seen and congratulated a “high performing” leader, but the team views them as toxic? Then we promote the toxic leader and further reinforce the rip tide is here to stay?
Here’s the deal. If you don’t know what to look for and if you don’t see the signs, then you don’t know it’s there. Everything looks good, but it’s not.
The leaders can be sipping mojitos on the beach while working hard. The view from afar is great, but, if they don’t step into the water every now and then, they won’t really know what the team is dealing with and how they can help.
So what do you do? How do you stay strategic while also knowing what’s happening with the current?
Here are a few ideas.
Keep an open dialogue with managers. Skip a level for a coffee every now and then. Remember: if you don’t get “real” feedback, it’s because you don’t have a “real” relationship. Once you are trusted, you will receive news of the riptide and frigid waters.
Step into water to see how it feels. Observe and experience the systems, processes, and challenges of the team. Let them know you are not afraid to take the step into their world, and let them know you will work diligently to provide wet suits and proper training to navigate the rip tide.
Bring Insight Leadership Group in to conduct a Cultural Healthy Inventory. Gain a granular snap shot of what is great and what needs work to keep everyone moving forward while loving life at work and loving life at home.
The ocean is a peculiar place to be ... something so peaceful and yet something that can be so tumultuous. It’s the same with our organizations and teams. If we don’t pay attention to what’s happening in the water, and if we don’t pay attention to the climate, we won’t be ready to weather the storms that roll in. Stay connected to your team, so when the waves are surging in at 20 feet and the damaging winds are howling, you are ready to lead them through the storm safely.
If you are a senior level leader without the energy to walk down to the water, then commit to join us at Distilled on Feb 28-March 1 to focus on rest and purpose.
Three intentional steps to be prepared regardless of the wind and the waves in your organization. [ryan@insightlg.com]:
Virtual Coffee: Let's chat about your leadership. What do you see when you look at your team?
Executive Coaching: Prepare yourself to make the right shifts in approach to lead with effectiveness and drive the results you want to see.
Lead with Courage & Conviction: Learn more about our executive leadership experiences that prepare you to leave a legacy worth remembering. Distilled 2024 is coming!! Get in on the Early Bird rate. See details below.
