GLN 2024 - Leading Behind the Wheel

[Paul Terlemezian]

Wednesday, December 4, 3:00 PM Eastern USA

What correlation if any is there between our performance when driving a vehicle and our performance as a leader?

How might we establish and/or recognize leadership potential with the expectations and guidance we offer to young drivers?

Please offer your ideas by replying to this discussion and/or attending this session.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89895585667?pwd=nSM3X2YA87Cj5CbPl0N3SCZvR...

• Meeting ID: 898 9558 5667
• Passcode: 086728

Mike Lutzenkirchen is the founder of Lutzie43.

[Bill Crose]

Interesting question. I used to teach a leadership class and at the crux of it was that great leaders must take risks. I remember using a dartboard with red, yellow, and green circles to explain that operating in the green zone is safe, yellow is dangerous, and red is forbidden. While it's perfectly acceptable for a leader to always stay in the green zone, always following rules, and never "coloring outside the lines," those leaders will never get promoted. Great leaders bounce from the green zone to yellow, back to green, and green to red and back. Bad leaders spend too much time in the yellow and red zones. From this perspective, a good driver sometimes breaks the speed limit to pass another vehicle, but quickly returns to the speed limit. Similarly, a good leader may demonstrate the zipper merge technique or pass on the right when the left lanes are blocked by slow traffic. Good leaders also plan well. So, you'll never have a good leader run out of gas, get caught in a blizzard with slick tires, or park in a handicapped space due to being late for a meeting. They also use their senses to drive defensively and aren't distracted by phones, passengers, etc

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[Paul Terlemezian]

Bill, I had not heard the red, yellow, green traffic light metaphor applied to leadership before. It is excellent because it is relevant and simple - thank you!