Yesterday I faced some challenges. They were solved, but the process dishonored my own character. At the root - my impatience. I want to 'git 'er done', and right now. But at what cost?
Got me thinking about advice I gave to myself and others in a blog I wrote back at the dawn of 2013. I re-read it for myself and decided I needed its lesson of practicing deliberate SLOWNESS. Perhaps you do too. Here is it, edited for 2016
For 2016, join the SLOW movement for leaders. There are already movements around slow living, slow eating, slow art, slow travel and even slow beer brewing! Did you know there is also a World Institute of Slowness?
Got me thinking about advice I gave to myself and others in a blog I wrote back at the dawn of 2013. I re-read it for myself and decided I needed its lesson of practicing deliberate SLOWNESS. Perhaps you do too. Here is it, edited for 2016
For 2016, join the SLOW movement for leaders. There are already movements around slow living, slow eating, slow art, slow travel and even slow beer brewing! Did you know there is also a World Institute of Slowness?
But who among us have ever considered the benefits of
being a slow leader? Isn’t that an
oxymoron?
Consider the habits and talk of leadership in our
culture:
o Progressive
– advanced – forward looking – cutting edge –radical – avant-garde –
revolutionary - innovative
o Dressing
& presenting casual like Steve Jobs did
o TQM
o Six
Sigma
o Ropes
courses and other ‘team-building’ activities
o 7
Habits of everything...
The latest book, seminar, or other ‘fad’ can serve to drive
interest and discussion, but rarely does it drive effective change. Why? It
drives leaders into bad decision-making out of a falsely perceived need to be ‘on
the cutting edge’. If being cutting edge is your raison d’être for being a good
leader, you are going to bleed a lot! No
sooner will you get a grip on this ‘new thing’ and then another comes
along.
Who wants to always be on the cutting edge? It’s bloody painful there!
Remember that dog in UP?
Every once in a while his attention was distracted…”Squirrel”! Our culture contributes to a collective ADD. Sound bites, advertising, fast-paced movies
and fast food are the surface elements of a deeper distraction. Innumerable and cleverly marketed leadership
theories, systems and certifications prove my point.
You are likely thinking about advancing your leadership
in 2016. Excellent. But before you get
carried away with plans and ideas:
- What’s’ the true benefit to speaking the latest lingo or possessing the latest certification?
- What’s the rush to be on the front edge?
- Does it have to be done NOW?
- Where & how will this latest ‘thing’ actually show up and benefit your organization?
- Who does it serve for you to be ‘trendy’? I suspect it serves YOU more than your client or your constituency. There is a lot of narcissism among leaders, even spiritual ones. We are driven by our grandiosity more than we think.
Frankly I don’t
believe a client or constituency cares if you are cutting edge and trendy. They care whether you deliver on what you/your
organization promises. I suggest to you
that their loyalty and support deserves leadership than can weather the elements;
that is resilient in a chaotic environment; that has a stronger foundation than
what group-think provides. In other words,
they look for leadership that is DEEPLY & FIRMLY GROUNDED rather than acting
like wing-nut, leadership theory groupies.
I contend that leaders need to slow down, take longer walks and stop looking only to the future. They serve others best when they include a 360 degree perspective on the way they perceive their world.
The enduring values of a culture and its' history, along with
present needs and issues must also be included in the leaders’ point of view.
Recently our long-tenured Prime Minister experienced an electoral defeat. He was a capable man, but had lost perspective. He viewed the future of our nation primarily in economic terms. While our economic status was envied globally, domestic social issues and values were left largely ignored and proved to be the swing factor in a change of government. He and his party suffered an evident lack of 360 degree leadership perspective.
Recently our long-tenured Prime Minister experienced an electoral defeat. He was a capable man, but had lost perspective. He viewed the future of our nation primarily in economic terms. While our economic status was envied globally, domestic social issues and values were left largely ignored and proved to be the swing factor in a change of government. He and his party suffered an evident lack of 360 degree leadership perspective.
The nomadic leader is inherently open to
change. They have to be. But neither are they battered by every wind of
change or fad. 2 questions to reflect on before impatiently running toward a change or fad:
- "What is the actual purpose for this change?"
- "What values will this change serve?"
Effecting the right kind of change requires leaders
who have created a personal foundation of habits,
attitudes, behaviours and values they deem necessary for leading others into quality
living. Leadership isn’t just about navigating
change. It’s about navigating to a place
of purpose, prosperity and meaning!
So, join me in the SLOW LEADERS movement.
- No sign up.
- No marketing strategy.
- No time frame for fulfillment or recertification!
Make a choice to slow down and anchor yourself in
the timeless habits, attitudes, behaviours, and values that comprise a
foundation for enduring leadership.
Here are some
self-coaching questions for you.
For questions that ask
you to rate yourself, use this scale:
1 = least important, to 10 = critically important
1 = least important, to 10 = critically important
1. How
often do you think about the foundational anchors that define your leadership?
Score_____
2. When
you think about your answer, how important is this to you?
Score_____
3. How
important do you want it to be?
Score_____
(If the gap between the answers to # 2 & # 3 is
wider than 2, keep going...)
4. Describe
3 anchors you provide as a leader to your organization/family/team.
5. Take
each one and rate them in 2 ways:
- To what extent do I actually demonstrate these in my leadership activity?
Score_____
- Where on this scale would I truly like these to show up?
Score_____
6. What is my plan to address the gaps? (Contact me if you need some help – harvey@visiontracks.ca)
Jesus Christ told a story of 2 men who built their houses
on various foundations – one on shifting sand and the other on rock. Which one do you think endures stormy and
unpredictable weather?
Choose a foundation that endures. Then start building.
Good thoughts Harv,
ReplyDeleteSlow leadership!! Sign me up!! Uh, well, whatever it is one does to do this well. :-)
Ken
Ken - It's always easier to go with the current. We all know the rate of flow in the contemporary leadership environment. Slow-down can never occur until self-assessment and then deliberate choice to either drop anchor or turn that boat around and move counter-flow. I think we'd all be surprised how any other leaders out there would love a few of us to start setting an example.
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