As leaders we are people of responsibility.
We plan.
We worry.
We take risks.
We think ahead.
We try to stay at least one step ahead of our followers.
I’ve discovered that my “futuristic” strength (See Strengths Finder 2.0 and Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath) has a downside in that I can sometimes imagine problems and challenges where none exist. When that happens, my energy is redirected and drained. I lose focus on the present.
Planning and thinking ahead is important, but we live in the here and now. We can live in the “there” and miss the “here.”
We can get so far ahead of our team members in our thinking that we miss what is happening in their lives now.
What’s the value in not crossing the bridge too soon?
We can be flexible and adjust as needed. Conditions change constantly.
Things happen to us that are out of our control.
If we rigidly adhere to a plan, we may take a path that no longer meets our goals or the needs of our team.
Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it is a reminder to be adaptable enough to make adjustments as conditions change. It’s also a reminder to not allow unnecessary worry to drain our energy.
There are times when leaders are like the captain of a speed boat that takes a direct line across the lake.
There are other times when leaders are like the captain of the sailboat that has no direct path, but adjusts as the conditions change.
What bridges are you crossing that you have not come to yet?
Igniting Hope 4 Leaders 