I am water.
Water is calm. But it is also powerful. Water goes with the flow. But it also shapes the landscape.
Water is adaptive and influential.
That is the summary of a leadership philosophy.
Mine.
Like any good leadership philosophy it is easy to recall. That’s why I used the poetic image.
But like any good leadership philosophy there is a lot more behind that concise catchphrase. I am water, because I see it as representing my main strength as a leader: adaptability. But it also represents some of my other strengths as well: maximizer, achiever, and responsibility. Let me explain. Most of the time, I am a go with the flow type of leader. One who changes as the situation changes, just like water moving along the bends in a river and then emptying into a lake or ocean. I am calm and well-balanced which allows me to endure rough patches during those changes. But I am also always moving forward towards one goal and then the next. I am also moving forward to achieve something, something that will benefit the people I am responsible for. To that end, I also want to achieve that goal well so that it serves those people in their own goals. But I am always adapting my methods and tools to best serve.
Now with any good leadership philosophy, it must be put into practice.
Poetic words are great for making the philosophy memorable and meaningful, but leadership needs action to have an impact.
So here are some examples of how I practice being water as a leader on a day-to-day basis:
- My natural tendency is to work on projects in big chunks of time. But as a leader, much of my time is broken apart by having to attend meetings. I adapt by changing my working schedule such as getting to the computer early in the morning or late at night to have some uninterrupted time. I have also adapted by making better use between meetings and working in short bursts.
- Another natural tendency of mine is introversion. But being quiet around followers is not particularly effective for leading. So I have practiced and I am now adept at small talk, which helps break the ice into other conversations.
- Related, another natural tendency of mine is to be a rather reserved person and not share personal details about myself. But transparency is one of the greatest tools a leader can have. So I have changed to be much more open. I share personal examples and mistakes I have made with followers now so that they realize that a) I’m human and b) hopefully can learn without having to go through the same issues.
- Part of leadership is management. And as any manager knows, there are daily fires that pop up that need immediate issues. This used to frustrate me, but after realizing that I was capable, and that I needed to react better for those I serve, I changed my thoughts and now handle these with a calmness that serves everyone better.
I am water.
My leadership philosophy is just one example. There are many other ways to go about these. I’ve seen ones that are written like company mission and vision statements. I have seen ones that are acronyms for a set of personal values.
Each one is different, just as every leader is different.
However, every successful leader I have seen has a leadership philosophy. It serves as a guiding light when you are unsure. It reminds you of who you are and allows you to make decisions that you can live with, even under difficult circumstances.
Be water. Be fire. Be a stone. Be the leader that you are.
Great read!