Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
I’ve seen a few posts on LinkedIn lately saying leaders need to act like a GPS. I understand what the comments are trying to say, meaning that leaders should provide direction. But honestly, I think there’s more to “act like a GPS” than simply providing direction.
It reminds me of a time when Mr. Bartender and I were driving to Miami for a local festival. Since we had never been to this part of the city, we were using the GPS in our car. However, on this particular day, the GPS wasn’t getting the job done. We were driving all over, getting frustrated that we weren’t where we wanted to be. Then it occurred to us that we were putting all our faith in this little piece of equipment. And maybe that wasn’t the right thing to do. Now, apply that story to the workplace. Sometimes, we rely on a person, a company or a process to give us all the answers. Just like we expect a GPS to give us flawless directions.
Even when we have a lot of resources at our disposal, it’s important to maintain perspective. Remember even the best leaders can have an off moment. And they may not have all the answers. That doesn’t mean they aren’t smart and able to provide excellent results.
If you’re wondering how my Miami story turned out, well, eventually, we found our location. Only to discover there was absolutely no parking at the event. So, we turned around and went home. But all this talk about leaders and GPS reminded me of the lessons I learned along the way.
- Leaders (and GPS systems) are only as good as the information they get. If you give a GPS the wrong address, it will take you to the wrong location. Pure and simple. Same goes for the leaders and other people you’re soliciting help from. The answers they provide will only be as good as the information they have.
- Leaders (and a GPS) can offer multiple options. Today’s GPS technology will offer 2-3 routes to get somewhere (quickest, no tolls, etc.). This is true for many things in my personal and professional life. For every question, there could be several answers. Everyone must decide for themselves the best one to take – it might be the easiest, the cheapest, etc. depending upon individual circumstances.
- Sometimes we need to follow our intuition. There have been times when using my GPS that I’ve said to myself, “Something isn’t right, I think we should stop and double check.” Even though we put the GPS in charge of navigation. Maybe you’ve done the same. We know something isn’t quite right but, because we’re not in charge (aka the leader) … we don’t say a word. And we possibly pay the consequences for our silence. In my Miami story, the consequence was immaterial – a scenic drive through Miami. But there are situations that end up much worse.
- A second opinion can be valuable. Speaking of following your intuition, during those times when I’m questioning the GPS, I will take out my phone and check Apple Maps or Google Maps. Another route appears. It gets us to our location. Always remember you can ask for another opinion. Even if it’s just to make sure you’re getting good information. (Oh, and a side note – Apple Maps and Google Maps aren’t always in agreement on the best path to take.)
- Don’t be afraid to ditch the trip. Like in my Miami story, yes, we found the destination but at some point, it just wasn’t worth it. There are things we end up doing in life because we feel we’re supposed to. Or we’ve already invested a lot of energy and would consider it a waste if we didn’t go through with it. If it doesn’t feel right anymore, it’s okay to quit and move on. Leaders are allowed to change their mind (provided they communicate it that way).
When it comes to directions, I still use a GPS. However, when it comes to business leaders, I expect more than just directions. Leaders need to get and give good information. When possible, they should offer multiple options to achieve the goal so the team can decide what’s best. They should let people ask questions and provide feedback, so everyone has confidence in the information and the process. And finally, they should change direction (or quit) when it makes sense to do so.
Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of San Diego, CA
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