FC Experts Blogs
July 11, 2007
Leadership: Direction Defined or Not
Yogi Berra said “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up somewhere else”. Thomas Leonard said “Stop looking for direction….just get on a path” and I’m often quoted as saying “If you’re so focused on your end destination you’ll miss life along the way.”
Some are so determined to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘Z’ they miss everything in the meantime…everything that unfolds in the process which might just take them on a better path instead.
Use, for a moment, the analogy of a person going for a power walk or walk to get exercise….watch them as they focus so intently on how far they walk, their pace, their body movements to make sure they get the most benefit from this exercise. If you watch their facial expressions, and head movements they’re looking straight forward for markers so they know how far they’ve gone, often glance at their watch to see how good a time they’re making. They’re on auto-pilot, walking for a purpose but most of the time not noticing anything along the way. They’re not letting the world in, rather they’re in isolation from the world as they achieve their purpose, but not grow in the interim.
Do you find yourself so focused on finishing tasks, projects, getting from A to B that you miss so much along the way and finish without that sense of achievement? The reason why is you’re working towards a deadline not much else. In that case you’re not defining your direction you’re letting the path define it.
What if you took the time for conscious reflective thought to see the intention of what you’re doing, how it would make you evolve or not and in the scheme of things, what it means in your life to do what you’re doing?
And if you’re not happy with the answers you’re getting, what if anything would you do about it?
Donna Karlin • Executive and Political Shadow Coach™ • Ottawa, Canada • •www.abetterperspective.com
Posted by Donna Karlin at July 11, 2007 10:29 AM | Topic: leadership |
3 Comments
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Wow this brief article contains much overlooked insight. I walk my dog every morning. The idea was to give her exercise and train her to walk on a lead. In the mean time, I have been reminded of the beauty of the cool quiet of the break of day. I have found myself in silent gratitude for my own health and the wonders of nature and hopes for those in my life to reach their destination and find peace and self respect. I have found new acquaintances and developed the bonds of neighbors all through a simple wave and acknowledgment of sharing this place. With quiet peace, I reflect, and see new possibilities for my contribution to the day.
I teach part time and I remind my students with each lesson that they complete of the new found knowledge that they have gained and most importantly their own independence in accomplishing new skills.
I work in super computing, providing customer support. Along this path we have discovered the need to not only support our customer, but provide the gathered information to others later for their own stepping stones at innovation.
... and my dog, she's much better on the lead!
Thank you.
A parallel story unfolds here. With reflection and examination of intention, the potential for a new perspective emerges. Leaders bolting from A to Z may be power walking through the intersections of the team members they lead. Choosing to see and experience where those paths cross differently opens countless possibilities. What could it mean to leaders and their businesses if we could engage in this richness along the way?
Donna's blog reminds me of my mother who used to say to me that switching to new jobs hoping to find something you like isn't going to help because you yourself do not know what you want. That was painful but true. Since then, the thought of changing jobs hasn't gone away but I think more about what I want rather than which job sounds cool.