If you’re a leader, you know that often leading well means taking risks. It is somewhat like a Tarzan swing. In order to move forward, there are 3 things that need to be considered:
1. You need to quickly assess which vine you are going to grab.
You need to choose your next vine from a variety of different vines hanging from the trees. The strength, width and length of the vine all need to be considered as to whether or not it is going to get you to the next vine. Often, the choice needs to be made under some amount of pressure which can make the choice harder, especially if you are unsure how the vine is going to react when you grab it and swing.
The same can be said for our teams. Their personality, skills and abilities play a part in how they will respond when they are needed to do their part to move forward towards the right outcomes. And this is especially true under pressure – which can completely change their responses.
2. You need to reach out with strength & confidence.
When you are swinging through the vines, you do not have the luxury of an endless amount of time to think through your choices or you lose momentum very quickly. Often it is the same in our teams. Our teams look to us to lead them well and with confidence. The better you know yourself and your team, the better – and faster – you can make decisions about direction; the better you are able to solve problems as they arise and the more confident you will be that you are reaching out to the right vine and it will hold you.
and 3. you need to let go of the previous vine!
You cannot move forward quickly with a Tarzan swing if you continue to hold on the vine you started with. It is appropriate to let go in order to travel forward and the faster you let go, the quicker you can move. In our teams, we need to learn how to let go of the stuff that does not help us move forward. If there are mistakes or problems that have arisen, deal with them and move on – let them go, for your own sake and for the sake of the team. No-one likes to be part of a team where the “sins” of the past are constantly referred to. If there are decisions that have been made that have resulted in less than ideal outcomes, take responsibility and reset. Only spend as much time as is necessary and fruitful reviewing what has been and then get on with the job of moving forward again. Remember, when you are swinging through the jungle, sometimes the best vines are sideways swings.
Don’t forget to let out a huge Tarzan like “Aaaaagh-aaagh aaagh-aaaagh” when things go well. Take time out to celebrate the successes. Everyone gets encouraged by acknowledging when good outcomes are achieved!
Thanks for being willing to be a leader!
Narelle