Serve To Lead

I wasn’t ready for the beauty of Ronda, Malaga, Spain. I really wasn’t prepared for how mind-blowingly gorgeous the landscape, plazas, and city were. A small city, but you can’t see and appreciate it all in just 1 day. And in keeping with that idea, I’m writing in 2 parts this week. The bus station left much to desire, but just a 2 min walk away and we were in a different century and mindset. Busyness and cigarette smoke gave way to ringing cathedral bells that shattered the tension of being in a new place and the Plaza de Socorro opened up to us like an old friend leaning in for a long awaited hug. We sat and had lunch beside a fountain in the plaza and then stumbled upon the Puente Nuevo in the Plaza de España after passing through a market.

The bridge is almost like a portal you see in science fiction movies that immediately whips you into a different time period. And much like a time traveler I found myself a looky loo as I gawked and awed over every building, flower, and mural. But the beauty is in the simplicity. A mural of Ronda adorned the walls of the first building we came to in the old city, accompanied by quotes from poets, writers, and artists. And they all spoke of Ronda’s uncomplicated beauty. And that’s when it jumped out at me. This is how creating a vision for your team and people is supposed to be. Simple, beautiful, tangible, understandable, yet awe inspiring. The music of the artists playing their mandolin, harp, and even the water color painter’s brush strokes could be heard in a plaza full of people because honestly everyone was so struck by the beauty of where we were standing, that no one could speak. It was deathly quiet but for the music of the artists’ crafts.

Is your vision for the people you lead that inspiring?

K.I.S.S it, an acronym usually interpreted as keep it simple stupid. I think we’ve done the ideal of the mantra an injustice with the stupid bit. How about keep it simple and succinct. Short, detailed, and clear without unnecessary complexity. This is Ronda; small, welcoming, and unbelievable. In keeping with my previous newsletters I offer you several examples of how this idea and variable in leadership presented itself to me this week; music, coffee, a tomato salad, and a really big bridge. All done perfectly, all done ridiculously simple, one would almost say stupidly simple, except that there’s nothing stupid about how amazing each of these were.

A tomato salad, nothing more, nothing less: I wanted a cafe con leche and the idea of a fresh salad sounded great too….and juice….and dessert, but I digress. What I thought would be a small side salad with cherry tomatoes, no different than what’s served back home at any big chain restaurant actually turned out to be a huge bowl of freshly sliced tomate de rama with a tuna steak covered in olive oil and served with fresh bread and balsamic vinegar. Simple right? Bread, tomato, fish, and oil, but let me tell you that the flavor was anything but simple. The lovely lady serving it to us really did not prepare me for how great this meal would be. And as you analyze your leadership and camino (path) to your vision, are you complicating the processes and steps that will get your people there? Are you clearly defining your vision to the people you lead? Look closely at that this week. If you can’t explain it to your people as simply as our server’s broken English and my broken Spanish muttled together, then you’re adding in too much complexity. Paint the picture for them with just a few non-negotiable steps and deliberate, fervent, passion for where you’re taking them.

A man, his mandolin, and his sandwich: The madolin player's music became audible in the Plaza de Maria de Auxiliadora you could feel the coolness of the shade provided by the trees and flowers hanging, a welcoming sight after a long hot walk. Again I gawked. The aroma of the food and flowers filled the plaza as the music man and his accompanying fountain played in perfect harmony. That’s it, a man, his instrument, and the sandwich he ate as he took a break. And that’s all he needed. People, including me, threw money into his instrument case, videoed him, and stood in wonder of his flying fingers and joy taken from his mastery of this tool. When you lead in this manner, people will follow you into the vision you have for them. Find joy in leading and interacting with your people. Bring them joy and express your passion for whatever it is that you do in your organization, but more so in how you treat them as people. That’s what people follow, not your title. Are you bringing your people joy in how you lead and where you’re taking them?

And much like my 6 hour day trip in Ronda, that’s all for now. There are more tapas to be eaten and the beach is calling.

1) Keep your vision simple, succinct, and inspiring. Paint the picture for the people you lead. Know and appreciate where you’ve been, but don’t be stuck in “that’s how we’ve always done it,” ways of thinking. The then and the now can be connected and it can be beautiful.

2) Provide your people with joy in how you lead them. That’s what motivates them. “People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.” Do it sincerely. The mandolin player was in love with his instrument. Fall in love with leading.

Later this week I have two more points I hope to inspire you with. And between now and then I’ll be on the lookout for more lessons. Take these two points and apply them immediately. Have a blessed week familia.