Cultivating A Pace That Matters
Photo by Florian Steciuk on Unsplash
There’s an excitement when we’re running at full tilt that’s hard to replicate. It’s as if every fiber of our being is alive and tingling, as we work towards a specific goal.
Certainly there’s a sense of risk (you might even call it fear) but it’s one that pushes us to stay on our toes, alert and focused. We’re geared to execute carefully, we’re mindful of staying agile as we do so, and we’re entirely focused on results.
When it’s in flow, at the end of the day, we’re exhausted but still looking forward to going at it again the next day, because that buzz drives us.
That’s a great place to be - and it’s what any organization that aspires to be great wants.
Many folks don’t, though, and it’s something that puzzles many leaders. I think that it stems from a lack of active belief in, or commitment to, the core agenda.
People don’t or won’t buy in, and so they don’t see the point of putting in the extra effort, to be vulnerable, to take the risk. They’d much rather prefer to be comfortable and live ‘within their means’, so to speak.
I want to be clear, though - I’m not suggesting these folks are wrong. I’m not making a judgment, merely an observation. Everyone’s free to make their own choices, based on their priorities.
Instead, I’d suggest the lens has to be squarely back on us as leaders. There’s no point complaining about the lack of commitment, rather we need to see it as a call to action, to own our own outcomes.
Our focus needs to be threefold: to build a vision that excites, to find people excited by that vision and then give them the tools and resources to go make it happen. This will breed the environment we want, and engender the pace we’re looking for.
Those that aren’t excited by it will (ideally) self-select out; at minimum, we need to ensure that they aren’t part of the core driving engine of the organization.
My point is that growth and achievement is almost always driven at a frenetic pace, and the key is to foster an environment (broadly defined) that celebrates that pace, that doesn’t shy away from it.
I appreciate this isn’t for everyone, but it is for those who want to matter. It’s the leader’s job to cultivate it.
