The Leader in Your Car's Rearview Mirror
Effective leaders drive at the team's speed, not their own - involving everyone in goal-setting, planning, and execution to accelerate progress through collective effort.
Adam Danyal & Julia Danyal
September 05, 2023
WRITTEN BY: ADAM DANYAL
You're driving the speed limit on a backroad when a car inches up behind you, headlights glaring in your rearview mirror. Realizing they want to pass, you move over. As the car zooms by, you catch a glimpse of the driver's impatient glare.
In that irritated face, every leader should see their own.
Like that driver, leaders get frustrated when progress seems stalled. We judge others' speed and competency against our own high standards. But speeding ahead often leaves our team far behind, disconnected and discouraged.
Great leaders drive at the team's speed, not their own. They understand that every member contributes in different ways. A convoy moves faster with unity, not when everyone scrambles to lead. As legendary UCLA coach John Wooden said, "It's amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit."
Rather than barrel ahead solo, effective leaders involve their team in goal-setting, planning, and execution. They invite new ideas, create space for debate, and recognize different work styles. Progress may seem slower at first, but an engaged team will accelerate faster over time.
When you feel that impatient glare coming on, remember the power of patience. Listen more, judge less. Ask how to support, not push. Progress measured by inches can become miles when powered by a team's combined effort.
Leaders don't need to ride the bumper of their team. By looking in the rearview with compassion instead of frustration, we become the pace car guiding a convoy, not a speed demon recklessly racing ahead. Progress follows a leader who sets the stage for team success, not their own glory.
So when you glance in that mirror and feel your frustration rising, take a breath. Let the team catch up. They'll get you to the finish line if you let them steer with you.
From our Leadership Bookshelf:
WRITTEN BY: JULIA DANYAL
The classic book "Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" by Spencer Johnson provides some valuable insights that can help us stay agile and adapt to change, much like a speedboat harnessing the currents.
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Key takeaways:
Anticipate change - constantly scan your environment to detect shifts early. Don't get too comfortable with the status quo.
Adapt quickly when change happens - like the mice in the book, pivot fast when you see the "cheese" moving. Don't cling to old ways.
Enjoy the adventure of change - rather than resist change, get excited about the thrill of new possibilities. Movement means growth.
Keep moving - when one strategy runs its course, move on to new approaches. Momentum depends on continual exploration.
Have faith in yourself - be confident that you can handle unexpected transitions. Trust your abilities during uncertain times.
"Who Moved My Cheese?" reminds us that change is inevitable. Like clever speedboat captains, we must watch for shifting tides, embrace new currents, and steer briskly towards exciting new adventures. Wherever the waves take us, success comes from staying nimble, optimistic, and ever in motion.
The Leader in Your Car's Rearview Mirror