Leadership Lessons Learned

For many reasons whether entirely valid at times, we tend to have a need to name or label things.  Sometimes definitions of the labels are fairly concrete, sometimes intuitive, sometimes debatable, sometimes manipulated, and sometimes perhaps arcane.

The photo from a few weeks ago on the mountain has three labels for the trail to be taken that depending on your perspective can be the focal point of the picture or simply be to the side of the view of the majestic peak popping through the clouds in the background.  Potentially, whether one even recognizes or places priority or prominence on the labels is up for interpretation or decision (conscious or otherwise).  The labels individually may also hold great variation in meaning depending on who the reader may be, where the reader is from (western vs eastern skier perhaps), what experiences the reader has had in their past, the skill of the reader, and the attitude of the reader in general or at the particular time (in their life, of the day, of the moment).

We probably all agree that labels are beneficial for this trail to give guidelines or guardrails at the very least, but we probably all agree in the variations of interpretations or definitions individuals may apply to them in general or as referenced…at any particular point or time.   However, even in this situation, if we take the labels at 100% concrete, we might never have a less than “expert” skier challenge themselves on the run, we might never have a skier from the west ever give it a go (if an eastern resort thin to them in general is saying it is thin…whoa baby!), or we might have someone slip and slide any snow there is off the moguls on the way down because they must take “caution”.

In my opinion, there are great parallels for learning, leading, and loving to be found from reviewing our need to label things, for determining how we label things, for interpreting labels, and for ensuring we do our absolute best to not be manipulated, directed, or defined by simply labels.  We must understand that in almost all instances there is nothing that is 100% and nothing that is 0%.  We must garner and glean knowledge to understand all potential definitions, consequences, outcomes and limitations of any label.  We must build skill at interpretation, understanding, empathy, and exceptions of or to any label.  Finally, we must realize that attitude towards, about, for or against a label can make all the difference.

We are at a crucial time in business, in politics, in relationships and in life in general where we seem to willingly or unwillingly try to singularly label, define, prioritize, idealize, or be divisive about labels.  We jump to completely opposite corners of the boxing arena immediately, we believe others are all wrong, we dismiss need to have civil discourse and disagreement over decisions, and we proceed without believing consensus, teaming, and compromise can move us forward.

We must also be brave enough to learn our way through and in a continual improvement basis around what this even means for significant business metrics and infrastructure decisions such as profitability, RTO/remote work, servant leadership, organizational development, teaming, environment or community (please quit saying corporate culture), growth expectations, and messaging.  If we strive and drive towards this continual evaluation and improvement, we will ensure our organizations are being moved forward on our most important missions.  It is the mission that should matter most, utmost, and always.  If we allow ourselves to gain knowledge, to develop skill and we bring a great attitude, the mission that is our destination can also result in one hell of a fun journey on the way.  Whether you are an expert, whether or not you should apply caution to some degree, and whether or not the cover maybe thin every now and then.  You can still enjoy the ride!  #itmatters #learnlovelead #movingmoguls