Leadership is easy until you’re faced with a challenge. Often, the actual challenge is not that important. But how you respond to it will define your success as a leader.
Think of it like riding a bike and suddenly hitting a steep hill. Growing up in Ohio, I got my first bike when I was six years old. It was great to have a mode of transportation that I could control. But taking any trip from my home meant immediately being challenged by one of several hills.
You’d feel your legs pumping but your speed would start to slow. If you calculated things right, you could make it to the top. If you didn’t, you’d have to jump off your bike and walk it up the rest of the way, something that didn’t seem too cool.
Responding to the challenges you face as a leader are just like those hills my little body learned to conquer. Let’s Clear the Path of some of the limiting thoughts that are slowing you down.
Build Up Speed
As a kid, I knew that if I pedaled fast before I reached the hill, my momentum would help carry me up it.
As a leader, what can your team do to prepare for the challenges you face? If it’s deadlines, then can you make a commitment to getting everyone to start earlier? It’s about supporting people and not just saying, “Start earlier.”
Is there a process that is slowing things down? For instance, if ten people need to approve something before it can be done, are you really committed to quick decisions?
Change the Game
If I was pedaling up the hill and I felt my speed dropping, I would stand up in order to bring some extra power to my legs. Just because I started the hill seated, didn’t mean I had to stay that way.
What can your team change that can give them more “power” when they need it? It could be as simple as free or extra coffee during your busy season.
Maybe you need to bring in additional staff or transfer staff to where they are most needed most during your busiest times.
The key is realizing that you can change things to meet challenges.
Think About the Top, Not the Climb
When you climb a hill on your bike, the more you think about the climb, the more control it has over you. It’s much better to think about how you’ll feel when you reach the top. It’s a mental trick but it works.
On the job, if all you see are struggles ahead, then is it not surprising that your mood may darken and your productivity plummets.
Make sure that your team members understand what happens when they reach “the top.” For mountain climbers, the view makes the climb worthwhile.
Consider Santa Claus. Delivering a lot of packages, in a short amount of time, is not easy. But he and his elves know the joy that their efforts will produce when the gifts are opened.
Learn to communicate the importance of increasing your market share, hitting a new customer service goal, or speeding up production. Focusing on those outcomes will distract from the hard work needed to conquer your hill.
