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Workforce

Navigating the Leadership Wake

Every leader leaves a wake. Good leaders manage, shape and help their teams to navigate it.
By Pamela A. Scott
August 18, 2021
Topics
Business
Workforce

Whether leaders are aware of it or not, they leave a wake in their path. Just as a boat leaves a wake in the water, it is impossible for a leader to enter a room, a conversation or email thread without influencing the situation. Some ripples are positive. Others are negative. Construction leaders unaware of their wake may leave their team floundering and bobbing in the water behind them. The key is for leaders to become aware of the wake. Then they can actively manage it in a positive way.

It is inevitable that a leader will leave a wake. The more a leader understands what kind of wake they leave, the better they are able to help others navigate through it. This is a required skill for facilitating team work. If a team is not working well together, it may be a sign they are in survival mode treading water in the wake of a leader.

One way a leader can manage their wake is to imagine themselves as a boat driver and their team as wakesurfers. Wakesurfing is a water sport in which a surfer rides the waves behind a boat. Just as a good boat driver acts in the best interest of the surfers, a leader acts in the best interest of the team.

Below are some principles that boat drivers use to assist wakesurfers that also apply to successful leaders.

Maneuverability

Not just any boat will do for wakesurfing. The boat must be maneuverable enough to quickly pick up fallen surfers. Leaders who forge ahead without looking back may lose key team members along the way. While leaders need to maintain momentum, they also need to be maneuverable enough to quickly pick up team members along the way.

Communication

The rope is the connection between the boat driver and the surfer. This connection must be strong and uninhibited. Surfers often use thick ropes, which are sometimes knotted to improve grip. There is usually an additional person to help tend the rope and watch for signals from the surfer. Leaders need a similar communication line with their team. This includes a key team member who serves as a communication custodian for both sides.

Vision

A key differentiator for wakesurfing boats is that they are weighted. Where the weight is placed in the boat directly affects the size and shape of the wave. A question for leaders to ask is, “Is my business grounded (weighted) in the right places?” Leaders should consider where they need to move resources or how they need to ground the vision to properly shape the environment for the team behind them.

Acceleration

Let’s face it: Leaders often don’t become leaders because they sit around and wait for things to happen. Leaders tend to be action oriented, but accelerating too quickly can throw a team off balance. A skilled boat driver (and leader) taps in and out of gear gently. This puts tension on the rope to signal when it is time to accelerate.

Direction

Boat drivers and surfers are more in sync when they communicate about the direction they will go. It is the boat driver’s responsibility to pick a landmark and drive a straight line. It is also the boat driver’s responsibility to communicate the direction to the surfer. Sharp turns and aimless direction make it difficult for a surfer to stay afloat. Good leaders set a clear landmark and communicate direction effectively.

Vantage Point

Boat drivers must watch the water ahead, but they must also keep an eye on the rearview mirror. This may require a boat driver to adjust the seat to obtain a higher vantage point.

This also allows a leader to see the path ahead and the team behind them. A higher vantage point comes from an outside source, such as external research, a mentor or coach or a new experience.

Every leader leaves a wake. The good leaders not only manage and shape the wake, but also help their team navigate it.

by Pamela A. Scott
Pamela A. Scott is an executive coach and founder of MentorLoft, a coaching firm that works with CEOs and execs to prepare their NextGen leaders to run their company. Pamela specializes in coaching engineers and CEOs of professional service firms. She is also the author of Focused Feedback in 15. For more information, visit www.mentorloft.com.

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