Greetings Leaders,
During a recent hike on a new trail, I became a bit disoriented. There were a couple of forks in the path that were not on the general trail map, which I had briefly viewed earlier. So, I veered to the right both times, as that was the general direction on the map for that part of the trail. I was never afraid of becoming hopelessly lost, but my focus did change. Rather than simply breathing in the beauty and enjoying the time in nature, I found myself trying to determine whether I was still headed in the right direction … or drifting further off the so-called right path.
Then I heard something. The voices in my head began vigorously arguing. One voice said I should just turn around and go back while the other argued equally for continuing onward. You are likely familiar with those voices when you have been uncertain.
As I let each voice try to convince the other, it dawned on me that this is precisely what it is like to work in an organization with no clear direction. You have conflicting voices in your head about what you should be doing. Your energy is focused on determining where you are, not on moving toward a goal. Your pace slows and you stop more often – in hopes of spotting any kind of assurance that you are indeed headed in the right direction. And sadly, you are no longer moving with confidence, but instead hesitantly stepping forward with a lot of second guessing.
How in the world can workers be expected to perform at their best when in a state of bewilderment like this?
Work today is not like a mindless stroll around a small lake, where the entire smoothly paved loop is in plain sight. It is a perilous trek through some heavy woods on a trail that is winding, treacherous, and often cloaked in shadows. So leaders, take the time to regularly check in with your people. Make sure they are as clear as possible on what the overall destination is and what they need to be doing to get there. Confirm they know what positive progress looks like, and the key milestones they should be hitting. When they actually hit one, strengthen their confidence with thunderous applause. And one last suggestion… ensure your people know it is safe, even desired, to ask for help when they feel a bit lost.
Your collective journey forward can be a beautiful and fulfilling adventure. Success will come easier with plenty of well-illuminated direction signs, visible progress markers, and a clear and obvious best path forward. And never forget that there is comfort and safety when facing the hard roads alongside fellow trailblazers, vs. having to go it alone.
Safe travels.
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