Running on "E" : The Leadership Vehicle
A few weeks ago, I went to pick up my PMO Consultant, Kim, from the airport. As usual I got caught up in a meeting and found myself hurrying out the door because I knew I should have been on the road 20 minutes earlier to pick her up. I jumped in my vehicle and being the Jersey driver that I am I was on the highway in no time. After greeting one another and loading her bags into the vehicle, we hopped into my car. I had forgotten she hadn’t seen my car. I had purchased a compact vehicle very well known for its reliability, and being economically and environmentally sound. As I drove down the highway I told her although it was great on gas, I was a bit disappointed by its lack of get up and go. Sometimes it seems like it had the power I needed on the highway and other times it seems to struggle. She looked at me perplexed as if I had three heads. In my high pitch and confused voice I responded, What?!! Why are you looking at me like that?!!!
She laughed and said Krishna I’m sorry, you know my dad is an engineer and mechanic at heart and that he taught me everything I know about cars. Yeah, I said slowly. She said well one of the things he taught me about cars is you shouldn’t expect your car to perform at its maximum when it has a minimum amount of gas. Krishna you are almost on E! I said, yeah, I know but I have enough gas to make it to the gas station near the office. She said, yes maybe you do but you don’t have enough gas to be driving 65 mph on the highway and expecting this car to maintain it’s highest level of performance.
You are expecting your car to perform at its best with very little gas and to make matters worse you are running the air conditioner. Of course, your car is struggling with meeting your demand to go 65+ mph. She said Krishna you should never let your car get below a ½ tank of gas. She then patiently explained to me the long term damage I was doing to my car. Kim shared how allowing my car to get below a ¼ tank of gas allows sediments to filter into the engine and causes future problems such as wearing the fuel pump out prematurely, or dirt to get into my tank and block the fuel filter. Both of which results in hundreds of dollars in damage.
Like me, many leaders want speed (quantity) and performance (quality) out of the departments they manage but leaders aren’t putting the necessary amount of gas into their employees to perform at this high level. These are the leaders running their employees on E. They are expecting employees to do tomorrow’s work with last year’s skills and training. In an organization, the big red E shows up as low employee engagement, poor productivity, sub par performance and worst yet workplace conflict, high employee turnover, lawsuits or discrimination claims, low customer satisfaction ratings or plummeting profits. It’s time we stop running on fumes .
Like your car, in your business you need to periodically pull over and fill up your employees with the gas and maintenance they need. The gas is providing your employees with professional and leadership development training linked directly to the mission and vision of the business and the maintenance comes in the form of engaging subject matter experts to share best practices, build upon your staff’s existing skill set and discuss current innovations and trends taking place in the industry. Studies have shown, organizations who train and develop their employees outperform those who do not receive training by as much as 200% If you don’t want your competition to drive by you and pick up your customers or high performing employees, my advice is don’t be too busy to get gas. Keep your employees gas tanks full.
Do You Step Back Or Do You Let Go?
I believe one of the most difficult things as a parent is learning to let go when all of your being wants to hold onto this precious life you created and/or nurtured. As parents, caregivers or guiders of these young lives we want to protect our children from the bumps, bruises, and even black eyes and broken noses that life can give. Unfortunately we can’t shield our children from everything.
As a parent to children ranging in ages from 10 to 30, I have learned that sometimes I have to step back and other times I have to let go. I guess you are wondering what is the difference between the two?
In stepping back, you remain close enough to catch the child and stop them from falling. In letting go, you are empowering your child to make a mistake and in some cases you are agreeing to let them fall flat on their behind because you know you won’t, you can’t always be there.
I have been a Human Resources executive in various Fortune 500 companies. I have witnessed some great events and some tragic events. From the adoption of an employee’s long sought after child, losing a member of my organization in the 9/11 attacks, and watching an employee battle an unforgiving disease until their last breath. I have learned life is not fair and there are no guarantees.
I have seen the effects on a child when a parent refuses to let go. The child either grows into a stagnated adult scared to take on challenges, shying away from new places and people, and worst yet, never realizing his/her full potential. Or, the child grows up to be an angry, bitter member of society because he or she watched life pass them by. This is the person whose negative attitude keeps them from being a real member of their organization; whom no one really likes to work with. This is the person who others celebrate when they are on vacation or even a leave of absence. No one wishes them harm, but everyone wishes them good riddance. Have you ever met anyone like that? I have and I want to make sure my children don’t grow up to be one of these people.
I want to give my daughters every chance possible to not just be productive members of society, but contributing members to society. I didn’t birth them to take up space. I birthed them so their smiles, personality, and purpose bring light and joy to dark places. I want them to walk into a room and feel that people are glad they are here. God has blessed me to feel this time and time again. It is a wonderful feeling to know you matter, to know you make a difference.
I find that I have to be willing to take chances and fail too. I have failed more than I have succeeded, but my successes have been greater than I ever could’ve imagined. I want my children to experience this too, but they must do so on their own terms and that means I have to let go.
Letting go isn't easy and letting go doesn’t mean you don’t help your child. It means you become a cheerleader, advocate, or even a coach on the sidelines. You are the one yelling at the top of your lungs. Get up! Wipe your eyes, you can do this! Just get up and try again, but this time be smarter, better, and bolder!
You see the gifts of knowledge and wisdom you have bestowed upon your child have permeated their very being so when the time comes your child will recall your words and make the right decision. Personally, I have learned that in letting go that I am saying to my daughters, I believe in you, I trust you, I am here for you but now it is your turn. Be Bold! Be beautiful, and most of all be courageous!