Often the way forward is to look back. For thousands of years sailing boats have been used to move cargo around the world’s oceans. With our awareness of climate change increasing and more people looking for alternatives, cargo sailing vessels are making a comeback.
We perform our best when we are in the energy and flow of the moment. Think of a river running downhill on the side of a mountain. The water is perfectly in balance with the rocks it is flowing over and the width of the stream bed, as gravity naturally draws the stream downwards.
No matter what you are doing, it will always be better when you are tapping into your natural energy and flow. This is also true when we are leading people.
What if you assumed that those people who work for you are in fact doing their best? As leaders we are quick to judge those we lead and when they don’t fit what we think they should be doing, we often get resentful and angry.
I believe that most of us are doing the best we can. Our challenge as leaders is to help challenge those we lead to grow into what is the next level of “best they can do.” If they are not willing to become the next best version of themselves, kindly send them on their way to somewhere else where their attributes will be appreciated. (more…)
I was parked at the beach sitting in my car having just finished a half-hour phone call. In front of me stretched the ocean views of English Bay. Across the bay the North Shore Mountains stood out in sharp relief to the deep blue sky. The sun was shining overhead while people walked or ran along the path in front of me. Nothing was booked in my calendar for the next thirty minutes. The task master voice in my head told me to drive off and get working on the next thing on my list. After a few moments, I put on my sunglasses, opened the car door, stepped out, and went for a walk, fully taking in the beautiful day that was right in front of me.
While I was still a computer science student at the University of British Columbia, I joined a young software startup called Robelle, named for the two founders Robert and Annabelle. I was the first employee.
As a requirement of my employment Bob and Annabelle insisted that I had to write my first technical paper, submit it to the 1980 International Hewlett-Packard General Systems User Group, and if accepted travel to the conference to present my paper.