Develop Your Capacity
It’s a new year, it’s a new you. Many of us have some sort of process we go through at the start of the year. For some, it’s a fleeting thought of how they want to do better. For others, it’s writing out goals, or committing to new routines like working out.
My daughter plays a sport in college, and summer conditioning is required for the team to be ready for the upcoming season. One of her teammates was visiting her this past August, and I went with them for a morning workout. I watched as they conducted timed sprints. There were 25 fairly long sprints, each having a timed goal. In between each sprint, there was an allotted time of “recovery.” This consisted of resting time to catch their breath, as well as to send blood and oxygen to their muscles. Then they would sprint again. This went on forever.
Intentional leadership is the key to effective teams and avoiding the riptide of reactivity. Yesterday, I met with a senior leader of a business line who, like many leaders, is highly skilled in executing and operational excellence. The challenge he faces, however, is how to stop reacting and spend more time on the big picture, in order to create the foundation for the organization’s future.