Rowing In the Right Direction
Just because you’re rowing, it doesn’t mean you’re helping….
I don’t know much about rowing but from what I learned by watching a couple of movies is that every rower has to be 100% synchronized with the team’s stance, rate and direction to optimize speed.
The vision, mission, and the path should always be set by the leader and crystal clear to everyone involved. The leader’s main goal is to identify who’s rowing in the wrong direction and address it immediately otherwise just like the canoe will go in circles and never reach the shore, the organization will eventually run out of time and resources before completing the mission.
The problem arises when an individual decides to ignore leadership directions. In many cases, they think they know best because they’re older and therefore more skilled, and doing it for good intentions, “I really think I’m helping” At the end of the day just like the rower above, all this person is doing is just splashing and making the canoe zigzag or go in circles.
Roles & Responsibilities exist to minimize confusion and make sure swim lanes are not crossed. For instance, if you’re the accountant, you should not be telling the machinist how to make the product, and the machinist should follow the schedule, not make his/her own. Do the job you have, not the job you like/want.
Confusion at the leadership level tends to be more costly, it should always be clear who’s #1 and who’s #2,3,… There is 1 Captain of the plane, 1 President, 1 Pope, and 1 CEO of 97% of companies.
Dual-headed organizations have a 95% failure rate because the Dual Master Cancer will rip through the team and create division, disorientation and destruction.
Intentional or accidental deviation from the path, overstepping boundaries, or questioning directives, not only impacts team performance but also has negative impacts on the leader who may find himself/herself wasting too much time and energy on internal bickering. This further leads to time wasted instead of focusing on driving the business forward.
Leaders must know when behavior is a minor distraction, and when it can jeopardize the success of the business because like rowing, ignoring erratic behavior can cause a team to fall apart and lose a life-changing race.
