I have a very bad habit of driving somewhere, putting my vehicle in park, and sitting in the vehicle for a while before I get out. Sometimes, I do this because I’m listening to sports radio and want to hear the end of the thought being expressed, or maybe I’m just moving slow that day. But occasionally, I hesitate because I don’t want to trade one climate for the other.
If it is bitterly cold outside, then the warmth of my vehicle is too appealing.
If it is raining, I dread stepping out into the rain. (This one doesn’t happen very often as we rarely get rain.)
If the heat outside is blistering, then the allure of the A/C can be too much.
In leadership, we have to be careful about developing a similar habit.
We may find ourselves waiting outside a meeting where we know the atmosphere will be chilled by attitudes.
Or maybe we hesitate to call an important meeting because we fear what may take place.
Or we put off having a tough conversation out of fear the conversation will go to a dangerous place.
Understand this: if you are in a position of leadership, find the balance between looking for problems to blow up and hiding from situations that scare you. You do not have to become a bulldog that tears into every conflict with glee, but you also cannot afford to be a turtle who hides in your shell at the first sign of unpleasantness.
As a leader, someone has placed trust in you to lead, so make the most of that trust.
Over the years, I have found that when I hesitate to do something, my hesitation is a key indicator the something needs to be done. I seldom worry and put off things that do not matter. Is that true for you? What are your own signs of the need for something to be done?
