Leadership Soup

The Defensive Line

I've always been more interested in the positions that make up a football team and their role in the game than the actual game itself.  As glamorous as the offensive positions may be...quarterbacks and wide receivers and running backs and tight ends and their yardage and end zone dances...the defensive positions get my vote every time.  Linebackers and cornerbacks and safeties and defensive tackles...these players anticipate and react and do what it takes to hold back the offense.

So as I watched the Super Bowl last night, I wondered how 'being defensive' got such a bad rap. 

You know how these conversations go.  You know the feeling that rises from your belly that results in a protective comment (and often a recognizable tone) and the inevitable question, 'why are you being so defensive?'  There would be no defensive line without an offensive line.

The defense doesn't have the benefit of knowing the plan or the agenda, so the reactions are based on instinct, experience, and a knowledge of the other team and how they approach the game.  The offensive goal is to keep the defense guessing and break through before their plan is exposed.

This isn't to say that every conversation has an agenda or that a defensive stance taken, over things personal or professional, is always an appropriate or instigated response.  But covering an intentionally (or unintentionally) offensive approach by attacking the response it brings about is lacking self awareness.

I paid closer and closer attention to the players as I thought through how I enter a conversation (and, true to form, I have been known to play offense and defense with the best of them); it actually slowed the plays down for me.  I began to see that there was a place for everyone on that field and that their roles change depending on the circumstances.  Ultimately, though, when the play was over, whether a down or an interception or penalty or touchdown, the players (even in their disappointment or anger or joy) had to accept their contribution, adjust, and move on.

This week, I'm slowing down my conversations and paying close attention to the position I play.  And when I feel it rising from my belly or sense it rising in someone else, I am taking responsibility for that position, addressing my contribution, adjusting as necessary, and moving on.

They are paving Route 2, AGAIN!

My insanely long commute has been relatively hassle free lately...until this past week when I found myself sitting in a parking lot on Route 2.  Though this particular section is prone to traffic during rush hour, I wasn't expecting this at 8 PM on a Tuesday night. 

I crawled along for about 10 minutes waiting to see the fender bender that was causing the delay when I caught glimpse of what has become my commuting nemesis...the construction cone.  These little bastards have power; silently, they pushed the two lanes of traffic into single file.  I watched them as I passed, one by one, wondering if there was actually anything really going on or if someone had just set them down to tease those of us leaving work late enough to enjoy the prank.  Not sure how long I waited or how many cones I passed, but I finally came upon the reason for the jam.  They are paving Route 2, AGAIN!

I say 'again' because I swear that I sat in the same exact traffic last summer.  And though I am no highway or paving expert, I don't recall seeing anything terribly neglected about this road that required another round of attention.

To make matters worse, when I came upon the spotlighted fiasco of paving trucks, there were about 50 workers standing around, in my best estimate, talking about paving.  I was relieved to pass this scene, highly anticipating breaking free of the congestion in mere minutes.

Not so much.  Spanning ahead for as far as a June night would allow me to see...more cones and more traffic, as if the chatting crew anticipated achieving miles and miles of paving that evening. By the time I finally reached the end of the parade, I twittered my frustration and found minor satisfaction in swerving around the last cone.

The next day, I scanned the CT DOT website to see if there was any information about this project.  There was nothing...nothing under 'Highlights and Initiatives', nothing under 'Calendar of Events', nothing under 'ConnDOT News'.  Apparently this was a non event for everyone but those of us sitting in the traffic.

This started to feel strangely familiar.

-  Inexplicable change (no communication or warning)
-  Short term chaos and disruption (before there is any sign of progress)
-  Overly aggressive goals (halting short term progress)
-  Unanticipated impacts (to individuals or processes)
-  Perceived lack of direction, identity or forward movement (brought on by all of the above)

For those working in an environment chock full of projects and long term strategy, my guess is that it feels familiar as well.  How many times does it feel like, without warning, cones appear?

Though there are complexities of executing large scale projects, driving towards a strategy, and managing the change that comes as part of the package that make it impossible to assure that everyone has a clear picture, there are basic principles of communication, planning and delivery that can prevent much of the frustration and disillusionment felt at all levels of an organization at one time or another (that feeling of the traffic jam).

Over the next few posts, I will address some of those basics and seek out examples of when it's worked (and when it hasn't worked).

I welcome your examples as well.

Stay tuned.

Knowledge Hostage

Not long after my post called 'These are the times that try men's souls.' Happy New Year!, my fascination with the whole AIG debacle had gradually soured to boredom, teetering on irritation...enough already.  But as luck would have it, during one late afternoon meeting, I had a passing conversation that peaked my interest once again.

This fellow sitting beside me surmised that the whole media and public battering of the AIG bonuses was a bit remedial and that retaining the executives who made a shambles of things was a necessary evil; his thought was that the ones that made the mess are the ones who were needed to clean it up.

Though I have read plenty about the continued distribution of $165 million in bonuses despite accepting government bailout money, including an interview with an attorney arguing the contractual obligations, an article on lawsuits in California, and even a blurb about how some of the execs gave the money back, that's not what has led me here.

It's this idea of the 'retention' bonus and my meeting buddy's comment about why they were important that got me thinking about how often we are held hostage by other's knowledge.  Whether it's our own fear of a learning curve, a perceived risk associated with losing the 'keeper of the nuts', or just plain laziness around having to dig into the details, the tendency to hold on to experience for the sake of experience is a dangerous practice.  I definitely have a few scars to prove it.

Now don't get me wrong, experience and expertise are wonderful things, so I'm not suggesting that it's always necessary nor prudent to trade in for a newer model...in fact, that purposeful action is as dangerous of a proposition. However, keeping in mind some telltale signs that you are a knowledge hostage will keep teams and organizations fresh and moving forward.

1.  Key dependency - This is what I mean by 'keeper of the nuts'.  In this instance, one person knows where the nuts are hid and is not necessarily willing to share how to find them.  Sometimes, there are plenty of folks that know, you just have to find them....other times, you truly have a dependency that requires a focused strategy on spreading the knowledge.

2.  Perceived complexity - Lots of things are complex with long learning curves and training ramps to achieve expertise; however, rarely are things so complex that if one person leaves the whole organization falls apart.  The 'keeper of the nuts' often has a vested interest in perpetuating the myth of complexity.  Debunk the myth as soon as possible.

3.  Recycling - 'One man's junk is another man's treasure' may be a good quote for a tag sale, but it's not always a good philosophy when looking for talent in your organization.  Often times, the sense of urgency of filling a role with a candidate that has at least some working knowledge leads to the hiring of individuals who were less than successful in their last role.  Beware of recycled resources...ask questions, get referrals.

So I'm finally done with our pals at AIG, but I was able to squeak out one last lesson, even if indirectly.  It's time to take a fresh look and see your potential 'hostage' situations brewing...and let me know what you find.

It's time for a sports analogy...

I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan.  Starting at about age 7, Aprils were full of promise with fresh starts, old reliable faces, eager new additions, and only faint memories of the sting of the previous season.  October seemed forever away, and I looked forward to the sunny months ahead with confidence that this was the year. 

Then, before I knew it, the fourth of July and mid season had arrived, and attention turned to either holding on to the success of the early months or fighting the way back after a crappy spring.  The shuffling of plans and players as we headed into the second half of the season became a dog days ritual that inevitably ended badly as fall ate away at the summer.  That is until 2004...
At this point, the story is cliche.  A year when everything went right; a year full of dramatic wins and news worthy characters. Best part of that particular October was that I was sitting in row 15, seat 6 in Busch Stadium the night that darn curse died.  The satiated relief of almost 30 years of wanting swept over me, and I was convinced I would never need another season or, at the very least, I would carry my satisfaction for another 30 years.  That is until 2005...

The sports analogy isn't necessarily a novel approach, but in very common experiences there are some novel lessons for leaders as they head into the 2009 season.

It will be October before you know it. 
I shamelessly admit I've stolen this line, but it's as profoundly applicable to life and work as it is to baseball.  It always seems that there is time to spare, but it slips away quickly and hijacks good intentions.  Plan and set achievable goals (and keep your eye on the calendar).

Don't be afraid to shake it up mid season.
Nomar Garciaparra was traded in August of that 2004 championship season even though he was notably one of the greatest Red Sox of all time.  Constantly assessing the make up and dynamic of a team, an organization or a company and changing players and leaders to keep perspective fresh, energy present, and gaps closed is a necessity.  Even when the decision is emotionally difficult or politically challenging, the consequences of settling into status quo pose bigger problems.

Get ready for another April.
Whether you're coming off of a disappointing mess of a season or a championship win, start planning and readying for the next challenge.  It's equally dangerous to let failure keep you from finding the energy and focus as it is to let a win steal your edge.

Now, let's play ball!

Fasten your seatbelts...a leader's view from the road.

My driving is what I would call infamous amongst my family, friends and colleagues. I will admit that am a bit of a lead foot and a helpless multitasker, so the reputation is not entirely urban myth.  However, having resigned myself many years ago to my 100+ mile a day commute, my drive is as integral to my life as sleeping and eating and working. 

I have seen and experienced a lot in my years on the road; a lot happens out there.  People smoke, sing, eat, argue, think, and, I imagine, experience the whole gamut of emotions depending on the day.  I have seen the best and worst of human behavior...it's a little slice of society that can teach us a lot.

Like most commuters, my biggest battle with the road over the years is traffic.  The predictability of a certain day and time is easily outweighed by the unpredictability of a late night jam or an off rush hour bumper to bumper fiasco that many times leaves me quietly unvalidated as to the cause.

My approach to traffic varies.  Sometimes with quiet resolve, I stay put; I'll turn on the addictive CD of the moment, make a phone call (hands free, of course) or bide my time running through the day to come or the day that has passed...I inch along and eventually clear myself of the mess.  Other times, when I am either late for a flight or a meeting or just plain too annoyed to sit still, I play the game of 'cut'.