Colleagues,
MVP: We need to plan for things to go wrong. This morning we arrived at London Gatwick airport. We will head to Sheffield to pick up some backpacking supplies and have a good night’s sleep. On Saturday we will head to Edale, the starting point of the hike, but we won’t head out until Sunday, which also happens to be our 35th wedding anniversary! We built in these days to recover from the air travel before pushing our bodies into the long hike. We have also built in a rest day mid-way through and allowed four extra days of travel in case we need to slow down. Including these rest points and extra days has taken a huge weight off our minds. Even if things don’t go according to plan, we should be okay. Imagine if we were able to build rest points and extra days into our change initiatives. Because things rarely go according to plan. Beginning next week, we will be running our annual series on the 20 most important things I have learned from others. I will try and share an occasional update on our trip, but am not making any promises – I will be trying to stay grounded in the moment! Today’s intention: Think back on the year and reflect on what went according to plan, and what didn’t. Did you build in time to accommodate the unexpected? Cheers! Frederick
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Colleagues,
MVP: It’s not about the big moments. Appreciating your leadership journey is about learning to appreciate each moment. As you read this, I am working my way through the TSA security checkpoint before getting on the long plane ride to England. I have been anticipating this trip for 38 years! But what if the reality doesn’t live up to the hype? It is a bit like embracing a big change. We have huge hopes for what will be. The challenge is to keep focused on the present moment. Work A-B, focusing on incremental, yet beneficial experiences. This is how I need to remind myself to approach this trip. It really isn’t about the big moments of stepping away from The Old Nag’s Head, standing atop High Cup Nick, or finishing our walk with a pint at The Border Hotel. The most meaningful moments will be less dramatic. Stopping to talk with a sheep farmer, coming in out of the rain for a hot cup of tea, sharing a biscuit with a fellow walker. We are all on a leadership journey and the way to get the most out of it is to appreciate each moment. Today’s intention: Be aware of your own journey. Avoid looking into the future, and just stay focused on the present. Cheers! Frederick Colleagues,
MVP: Think about what can reduce some weight Our biggest fear for our upcoming trip is overuse injuries. We know we can hike 16 miles in a day, but doing it for 18 straight days is going to challenge our joints. We have put some decades onto these bodies, and they aren’t as resilient as they used to be. Foot, toe, knee, and hip issues could each become debilitating. Beyond listening to our bodies, the most important thing to do is carry less weight. I shared previously how every pound in a pack generates eight pounds of force on the knee, so at 2,000 steps per mile, that translates into 7 tons of extra pressure on the lower extremities per mile! And we are going 270 miles! Cutting weight not only decreases the risk of injury, but it also reduces fatigue, allowing us to walk longer, faster, and more enjoyably. Unfortunately, we often take the opposite approach in our organizations. We add jobs, add requirements, add meetings, add change initiatives, add, add, add. And yet, we rarely take things out. I remember the year before I left Clemson University, having this realization – I loved 90% of what I did, but I was having no fun! There was just too much to do. Today’s intention: If you lead people, what can you do to lighten their packs? Cheers! Frederick Colleagues,
MVP: Strategic leaders let different people make different choices Most of our Grand Adventure takes place in England, and England means rain. Even in June, we could face torrential downpours. Consistent rain can make a hike miserable, especially if your gear gets wet. It also increases the risk of getting cold and can take a toll on your feet. There are multiple strategies for dealing with the rain, and Pam and I have discussed and debated all of them. In the end, we have each decided on a different strategy. I am opting for a poncho, and she is going for a breathable waterproof jacket and pants. Of course, the poncho is the correct choice. For me. As leaders, we make mistakes when we assume that the best solution for us is the best solution for everyone else. Ughh – I did this so many times… 😖 Listen to people! Ask them what will work for them. Trust them. And remember this… If I somehow managed to pressure Pam into using a poncho, and it didn’t turn out well, I am the one who owns the result. Today’s intention: Be mindful of decisions you make that impact others. Are you making assumptions without talking to the people involved? Cheers! Frederick Colleagues,
MVP: Shared leadership is real leadership. Pam and I leave Thursday for England and the beginning of our Grand Adventure. I know there are some leadership lessons waiting for us to discover, but in the lead up to the trip we have been reminded of some important leadership lessons and you will get those this week. One leader can’t do it all. While the main focus of our trip is the Pennine Way hike, we also have a few days after the hike followed by a week in Lisbon. I have led the planning for the hike, but Pam has led the post-hike planning. We have moved easily alternating between the leader and follower roles of the two parts of the trip. We are a team. And that’s the way leadership should work. Leadership is not a position; it is a role. Leadership should be shared, collaborative, and fluid. The leader who does everything for everyone is limiting the capacity of the organization. The leader who seeks to share leadership and develop it in others is building a stronger organization – and stronger people! Today’s intention: Reflect on your leadership team. Maybe it is a formal team, but it could be an informal group. Celebrate where leadership is shared, but also look for opportunities to improve. Cheers! Frederick |
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