I was listening to the Tony Robbins Podcast today, the episode was called, 'Becoming an Extraordinary Leader' and was released on February 2nd 2017. This episode was an interview with General Stanley A. McChrystal and Chris Fussell, who both served with the American Army and had massively influential and important careers there. They now mentor businesses on leadership based on over 3 decades of experience leading men and women in some of the most hostile environments on the planet. General McChrystal gave some great information on the fundamentals of great modern leadership and how to keep your business on track in the modern world, when change is happening faster than ever before. The interview was packed with awesome nuggets of knowledge, however one such nugget really stuck with me and has kept me thinking all day about it. So I thought I would share it. General McChrystal described two very different styles of leadership with such simplicity it made them so clear and easy to understand. Firstly he explained that he has seen a lot of people lead like Chess Masters. He goes on to explain that Chess masters are in complete control of all their 16 chess pieces on the board. He moves one at a time, all the while plotting the next moves ahead. Reacting to his opponent, he is the one making all the decisions. The chess pieces do not make a decision, ever. They are all under his control and he is in complete command. Secondly he explained that modern leadership, when done well is like being a Gardener. A gardener does not actually grow any plants. The plants grow themselves. What the Gardener does is create the environment for the plants to grow. He turns to soil, gets rid of weeds, waters, prunes, feeds and generally looks after the garden. If he does his job right the garden will thrive and the plants will grow. I think this has stuck with me because it is so easy to be the Chess Master, our ego wants us to be in control and to be the one to be making all the moves. However this style of leadership is outdated and no longer produces results in the modern workplace, and it definitely does not work at home. It is stifling, and does not promote individual and team growth. No one in the team has the chance to use their decision making muscle therefore they stop using it. I now strive to be more like a Gardener in all aspects of my life. I want to create an environment for learning and growth. An environment like this is liberating, fun and full of energy. Not stifling and stuffy. It is important for me to create and maintain a healthy, growth mindset environment that allows my girls to want to learn, both in their education and life. My seven year old today was making pancakes, which my wife had taught her to do. She was doing the whole thing, making the batter, putting the batter in the pan, understanding when to flip the pancake and knowing when it was properly cooked. I was so proud to see her do this. I stayed well back, allowing her to stay in control, but stayed close enough to make sure she was using the gas and pancake safely, without burning herself. Getting her to approach her maths homework in the same way is challenging, but we are working together on that!!!!! In my basketball coaching I am working with young men aged 15-18. A potentially difficult age, as they seem to have all the answers. It is very important to create a supportive learning environment here, where mistakes are OK and an understanding that learning comes from making mistakes. Trying to blend the personality types, skill sets and hormones of this group is not easy and I often see myself as a guiding hand, rather than an iron fist. Next time a coach will see myself working away to clear out the weeds (or to put a better way, poor fundamentals), turning over the soil (working on skill development) and watering the plants (helping each player with coaching points and advice). I will make sure that the environment is relaxed, fun, engaging and challenging and I will work my hardest to allow the flowers (players) to grow. I will be a servant to their needs, in order to further their growth, not an all powerful decision maker cutting them down and stunting their growth. So, go out there and work on your gardens, your areas of influence, wherever that may be. Peace and Happiness.
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AuthorMy name is Andy Smyth, I have spent the last decade working in the field of Sports Development, where I have had the pleasure of working to grow leaders within local community sports clubs in Scotland. Archives
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