Serve to Lead from The Tribe Has Spoken

"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." ― Michael Jordan

The sun glistened on the lake late in the afternoon. It shined from shore to shore as if it were a solid sheet of liquid gold. The oppressive heat this week had finally offered some reprieve. However, under the tree line some shade offered us a cool canopy. A well-beaten path gave way to a quiet little cove where my family and I decided to wet our lines. My son’s first enthusiastic cast made it’s way into the first branch of the tree he was under, and my wife and I soon followed suit. But by the end of the afternoon as the sun was fading as fast as my son’s desire to keep fishing, we were skipping our lures under trees and over logs as if we were seasoned anglers. And so it is with leadership.

Leadership, like fishing, is overwhelmingly skewed with more failed attempts than successful ones. Take an eight year old fishing sometime and you’ll fully grasp the frustration you feel when despite your best efforts, you spend countless hours trying to support, serve, and lead someone only for them to walk away, quit, or paint you in a negative light. But, you can’t stop casting.

Leadership is elusive for some. There is no “one size fits all” leadership. But, the widest net you can cast is with Servant Leadership. Below are some tips for you to use this week when faced with a “lunker” of an elusive member of your team, regardless of the environment.

ALWAYS, fish the boat ramp:

A tenet of leadership found in “The Dichotomy of Leadership,” by Leif Babin and Jocko Willink is to default aggressive. I love this. And it’s applicable in servant leadership as well. Don’t wait for the perfect fishing spot. If you do, you’ll skip opportunities to catch fish. In keeping with that tenet, don’t wait for the perfect opportunity to serve and lead. Just serve and lead from day one, step one, with everyone you lead. Whether they’re new to the team or a veteran, start serving immediately. If you need to know how you can best serve them, ask them. And in doing so, you just served their emotional needs.

Mind the weeds and watch your feet:

If you’re going to fish from the shore, your list of things to be concerned with is drastically different. Ticks and snakes like tall grass. And while you’re watching your bait and anxiously anticipating a bite, you just might get one you’re not hoping for. Similarly, when leading, be mindful of negative outside influences in your team or organization as well as to your leadership.

If the water is deep and you intend to get in it…you better wear your waders: 

If you’ve got a challenging group or an instigator of negativity, you better be ready for tough conversations. And when you find yourself submerging into the middle of a conflict or confrontation that is absolutely necessary for you to step in with both feet you must have resolve.

Everyday is different, bring a big tacklebox, read the weather, and observe the patterns:

Everyday is different and what you cast could scare off or engage those you lead, so you have to be versatile. Learn new skills to add to that tacklebox and listen to your people’s needs. Sometimes top water won’t work, and you gotta fish deeper: Storm front coming in or bluebird sky? If you’re not aware and observant you could get soaked and blown all over creation by high winds. But, regardless of the weather, there will be a pattern. You can take advantage of the pattern if you’re mindful with your questioning the same way Kevin VanDam is with his soft plastic game (he’s really good btw). Just like a topwater parallel to a windblown bank on a windy day, you can coax out issues within your team even during turmoil. Select an approach wisely applying ample observation and forethought.

Sometimes despite your best efforts, they get away or just won’t bite at all: Preface- There will be days, months, years, and entire teams that just won’t lead or follow one another or be receptive to your attempts to lead.

You can be as prepared as possible, have the boat full of gas, and a determination just as robust, but somedays you just get “skunked.” Fish 1 / You 0. Me, my wife, and son were on the losing end of a good “skunking.” But, there were lessons learned and the site of wife and son in the soft afternoon light fishing together was worth more than a full live well on Championship Sunday in the Bassmasters. In leadership, though you may lose some battles and maybe even take a “skunk” day, you still must continue to serve and lead. So, keep casting. One day, perhaps one this week, you’ll make a cast, feel the line tighten, and a leader from your team will emerge. Full of the lessons and courage you’ve empowered them with, they’ll break the surface. Every cast matters, so be encouraged and ready. More ready than I was to take an eight year old fishing without an ipad or snacks. Have a blessed week.