Four frustrating hours on Adelaide roads last week got me thinking about leadership. I must confess that few things in life can test my patience like drivers who sit in the fast lane oblivious to the fact that they are choking up the traffic. I know all the right things to tell myself about how “it’s an opportunity to slow down and develop some patience”. But the truth is I had somewhere I needed to be and three lanes of traffic were crawling well below the speed limit because a few individuals wouldn’t get out of the way.

That’s a picture of many organisations. When those who are in leadership positions don’t lead they choke up the pathway to the future. They’re often unaware of the frustration others feel towards the pace they are setting. But it’s called the fast lane for a reason (or a passing or overtaking lane depending on where you live). What a huge disservice it is to teams when they’re led by people who have forgotten that leadership is not just another lane, it’s a fast lane that should be used purposefully or else vacated so others can lead.

So how do you know if you’re being a Fast Lane Frustration as a leader?

1. Check Your Rear View Mirror
If you look behind you in leadership and people are chomping at the bit to get past you then perhaps you should ask yourself if you’re using the leadership lane effectively. You can tell people to be more patient, blame the next generation for being pushy, or defend your right for it to be “your turn” but there’s no escaping the responsibility that comes with that lane. Do what you want in the slow lane, but if you’re going to choose the fast lane, use it well.

2. Check Your Speed
I’m not saying that every tailgater is evidence that I’m not leading. The truth is some people really do need to slow down and stop being a hazard. But I should be prepared to check my own speed to see if I’ve slowed down without realising it. Perhaps I got into the leadership lane full of vision and ideas but lost some momentum as time went by.

3. Check Your Attitude
Do I see leadership as my right or do I see it as a responsibility? My attitude towards others and towards my position in leadership can create dangerous blind spots. It’s interesting how easily I can judge people as ‘idiots’ for driving slower than me, while labeling others as ‘maniacs’ for driving faster than me. A little self-awareness and a healthy does of humility can serve a leader very well.

4. Check If You’re Getting Ahead
How long since you actually passed somebody? The leadership lane isn’t the place for just keeping pace with the rest of society, it’s designated for progress. Have you got the same peer group as you had five years ago or have you passed some of them and caught up with others that used to be ahead of you on the leadership journey?

As for me, my leadership commitment is clear. I will pursue self-awareness, be aware of the pace I set and check my attitude regularly. And if the day comes when I am not using the leadership lane to make progress anymore, then I will get out of the way so someone else can.

I’d love to hear your comments and feedback
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Tags: Leadership Coaching, Leadership Development, Leadership Training, Team Building

This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 4:11 pm and is filed under The Leadership Coach. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.