Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea
Op-ed #15
Can you stay in your lane?
Fact:
Probably not. Leaders want to be at the front of the line for everything!
Discussion:
Yup, you are the leader. You are the principal, project manager or boss. But do you know when to keep your mouth shut and yield the front of the line to someone else? Are you prepared to let someone else get his or her picture taken? Can you give credit where credit is due?
It is what you may do best-lead. But there are distinct times when you have to stay in the background and let someone else take on that leadership role. My January 31, 2020 blog spoke of your ability to know what you do not know. Today’s article is a follow-up.
Let’s continue to use my driving and highway metaphor a bit more. Are you the type of leader that has to be the one rapidly changing lanes, perhaps irresponsibly, all of the time? I have worked with these types of leaders. It is difficult. I have been caught on the road with these lane-changers and it is difficult, if not impossible, to follow them. And if you did follow them, you could very easily be riding right into a tragedy.
When you do not have the expertise in a certain area, yield the floor to someone else. Let someone with the right knowledge and understanding of a situation get out in front. Pull over to the right lane and let this person lead the traffic in the lane. You will know when it is time to get back out in front. Trust me.
In today’s crazy world as we deal with COVID-19, know when to stay in your lane. Know what you do not know and do not pretend to be the all-knowing expert. Good leaders are able to do this. Let someone else be in the forefront. Someone with the knowledge to be in the forefront.
This comes back once again to knowing yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know the importance of assembling a good team with diverse strengths and points of view. People that you can trust and people who may well be smarter than you. This approach does not take away from your leadership skills, it only builds on them.
Finally, as the leader, let your team take the credit. When it is time for the kudos and accolades you must get into the background and let your team take the bows. On the other hand, if disaster happens, you must get out in front of it. The team can get credit for the wins and you must be strong enough to take the responsibility for a loss.
True leaders operate in this manner.
Let’s recapture some lessons from the past from Expecting Excellence. Namely:
- Know when to keep your mouth shut.
- Know what you do not know.
- Give credit and kudos to others. You take responsibility for any loss.
- Assemble a diverse team with divergent strengths and let them run the play.
- Stay in your lane. Let others lead and comment where appropriate.
Probably one of the most difficult things you will have to do as a leader is to learn to keep your mouth shut and to stay in your lane. It is not easy. I have been there and done both things. And I know when I got out of my lane, I usually slowed things down or totally screwed them up. And yes, I regretted it.
Good luck.
