Leading with Character: Be Intentional
Last week, I got up before the sun rose to ride my bicycle over to Woods Hole, on Cape Cod, MA. There, I planned to indulge in a pastry at the famous Pie in the Sky bakery, across from the Steamship Authority. It’s a once-a-week treat that is fun and refreshing. There’s nothing like the Shining Sea bike path which graces the ocean, offering sweeping views of Martha’s Vineyard. Out in the sound, fishing boats ply their trade, ferries scurry back and forth, and pleasure craft motor or sail the blue waters. Seals and seabirds abound along the coastline.
Unintended Consequences
As I pedaled along at about 5:30am on a clear, dry day, I suddenly felt a gravelly rain pelt me, thick and heavy. I was astonished by the early-morning shower given the perfect summer day shaping up. Almost simultaneously, I saw a cormorant—a large, black seabird—winging away over my head and I smelled…fish! The bird had come up from behind and as it flew over, excreted the remains of its last meal all over me. Splat! For a moment, indignation swept over me as had the droppings moments earlier. What had I done to deserve this indignity?
Of course, the answer was, “nothing.” I had done nothing to cause the cormorant to target me, and the bird was completely unaware of its misdeed. It went about its business as if nothing had happened while I was left with the mess.
Emotional Intelligence
As my husband, Bob, observes, I can find a leadership lesson in any situation. Thus, while pedaling towards the Steamship Authority building where I could clean up in the restroom, I thought about how the incident had parallels to human behavior. I have seen people act like that cormorant, thoughtlessly spewing out words that hit someone else full in the face like what came out of the tail section of that seabird.
The cormorant doesn’t know any better; it can be excused for dumping on someone or something below. But humans have the obligation to harness their emotional intelligence—situational awareness, self-awareness, empathy and the like—to be intentional in what they say and do. In today’s world, with the proliferation of social media, virtual versus in-person interactions, and an emphasis on “being authentic,” it’s even easier than ever to unintentionally say and do things that might offend, insult, or degrade someone else. I encourage everyone who aspires to be an even better leader of character to be intentional—to think before they speak or comment—with the intent to make someone’s day, not spoil it.
Look in the mirror: What can you do as a leader to set a positive example to help others be more intentional in what they say and do?
Please join me again next time for more on Leading with Character.
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