How Great Leaders Lose Focus (and Reclaim It)

As you begin the new school year, I want you to imagine this:

You are on a cross-country flight and you glance up from your Kindle.

In the aisle, you notice the pilot.

They are smiling as they bend down to pick up a dirty cocktail napkin while offering another passenger a Diet Coke.

You glance around the seat in front of you, wondering, “Who’s in the cockpit?”  But your view is obstructed by the co-pilot who seems to be retrieving a blanket for the gal in 14B.

Now, this scene might sound . . . friendly?

When, in fact, it’s terrifying.

NO ONE in the history of humans speeding through the thin atmosphere of 36,000ft has EVER been comforted by their pilot doing the work of the flight attendants.

NO ONE.

Why?

Because sane people think, “Who the F is flying this plane?!?!?”

You, my friend, are the pilots of your schools, your teams, your departments.

And, if you’re like sooo many of my clients, you get praised for a distorted version of “servant leadership.”  

It sounds like teachers or the members of your team saying things like:

• I just love seeing you on recess duty

• Come teach a small group so you remember what it’s like to be in the classroom

• If you want me to do it, shouldn’t you know how to do it?

• You should have an open door policy all the time

And as educators we love the concept of seeing our leaders slopping out school lunch and visiting every school on their roster each week.

We forget we’re pilots, we’re meant to be flying the plane.  

On your next flight, when the pilot and co-pilot stay in the cockpit, you won’t judge them.  

You won’t think, “Geez, they must really think they’re better than the flight attendants or the airplane mechanics.”

You’ll feel glad that they gave their trained expertise where it was most needed.  Where it was ESSENTIAL.

Recently, I was on a flight from Toronto to Denver.  

The pilot came on the speakers and shared how glad he was that Canadians were visiting the United States.  He said that our national politics didn’t represent what he knew about being a good neighbor.  He thanked us for flying with him.

He was a leader of culture, of values.  I trusted and liked that pilot.

But I’ll tell you, not once did he leave the cockpit during flight to come pick up a napkin.

And still I knew he cared.  He cared about his passengers and his crew.

We’ve been sold a crappy narrative.  It’s “distraction” and “make-everyone-happy” leadership masquerading as servant leadership.  

It has good leaders believing that if they get clear and focused then they’re being cold and aloof.  

And it’s a garbage lie that is costing us focus, conviction, and impact.

It’s time to shake off this old story.

It’s time to fully own and embrace how essential your visionary leadership is.

It’s time to pin a pair of wings to your blazer.

Leaders, this is your year to confidently plant your bum in the cockpit and freaking FLY!

Your coach in transformational leadership,

Maggie

PS - I coach leaders every day to make this shift in their mindset and in their strategic approach.  I guide them to give themselves permission to be confident and visionary leaders for their schools and teams all while being in greater connection with themselves, their teams, and those they serve.  If you’re ready to get your pilots wings, book a free 60 minute holistic coaching session with me HERE.