I recall a TV program that preceded the 1988 Winter Olympics. It featured blind skiers who were being trained for slalom skiing which, to me, sounded impossible. Matched with sighted skiers, the blind skiers were taught on the flats how to turn left and right.
Once that was mastered, they were taken to the slalom slope where their sighted partners skied beside them shouting "Right!" and "Left!" As they obeyed the commands, they were able to negotiate the course and cross the finish line, relying only on the sighted skiers' words. The choice? Complete trust or catastrophe.
What a striking picture of leaders as coaches. Employees sign on with the hope that their leaders will "be there" when the going gets tough. What are employees really looking for? Someone who will come alongside with a "Right!" or "Left!" when the situation requires the physical presence of the person with a clear vision.
Leaders, we have to "be there" to make a difference when those who rely on us don't have the ability or the direction to see what's in our minds. The outcome will yield trust and success, or catastrophe.
Where do you need to be today?
As well as a brilliant example of "Leader as Coach", I can't help think that this is also a stunning example of the difference that attitude makes.
I am humbled at how others overcome things that some of us would think of as "horribly life-shattering", but sadly reminded of how the media doesn't entirely portray this picture.
Over Christmas, we caught up with some old friends who we see once or twice a year. One of them told us about a friend of his, who has now added a second world record.
He was (and I hope I've got these the right way round) previously the holder of the "deepest dive by a blind SCUBA-diver" record.
He is now, additionally the "fastest blind waterskater towed by a blind speedboat driver."
He applied to a (UK) TV show in a which a "Celebrity Survival Expert" was to take people with disabilities on a trek somewhere remote. He was turned down because he was deemed too able, and apparently disabled people FAILING TO COPE would make better TV.
Posted by: Mark Harrison | January 03, 2011 at 08:19 AM
The article you have presented has riddled out intricate structure of leadership into a simple structure. I hope other also understand the effectiveness of this article as well!
Posted by: Poul Andreassen | January 03, 2011 at 10:08 AM