We recently got some fresh snow in Vermont (my favorite!) and I was lucky enough to hit the slopes with my daughter. I loved working with her to adapt her style as she adjusted from the New England hardpack she knows so well to the soft and fluffy freshies. Chatting over hot cocoa (with lots of mini-marshmallows), I tried to explain that in deeper snow, even though it’s scary, we have to learn to overcome our fear and point our skis downhill.

The conversation got me thinking - the nature of these tasks is often counterintuitive, counter-instinctual. We actually have to un-learn the hardwiring we came with and test and learn new ways to find what works and feels right.

Like my daughter, in steep and deep snow, my brain gets scared and wants my feet and body to turn sideways. But I’ve learned that when I point my skis and shoulders down-hill, my skiing gets more smooth and efficient. And my smile gets bigger too. Similarly, in a tight turn on the motorcycle, if I’m moving a little too fast, my brain screams: “Slow down! Brake!” But I’ve learned that the best way to ensure I exit safely is actually to twist the throttle and go just a little faster.*

Isn’t it interesting to think that our natural instincts don’t always serve us? That self preservation might steer us wrong if we’re not paying attention?

Might this apply to Leadership too? We’re driven to shine and succeed! We’re driven to be noticed and get promoted! We’re driven to prove how smart we are and how far we've come! But…what if we’re doing it wrong? What if our natural tendencies for self protection are getting in the way of our achieving stronger, smoother, more effective, and more efficient leadership performance?

I’d like to propose some counterintuitive aspects of leadership that I’ve had to learn over the years for your consideration:

To be viewed as a great leader… step back and help others to be seen
To create great value… look for ways to add value to others
To succeed… embrace falling and failure
To project strength… be vulnerable
To cut through and be heard… stop, and really listen
To be seen as intelligent… ask a lot of questions
To drive high performance… show caring and concern
When you want to retreat… step forward

Do these feel counterintuitive to you? Like speeding up when your brain is screaming “slow down!”?

Turning these into muscle memory takes work and intention. But so does anything in life that we want to master. Imagine a workday where you’re in the zone, feeling the flow, getting it right, floating from meeting to meeting and task to task with ease, rhythm, and efficiency…

Can you picture it? Feels like a fresh powder day to me…

(*this isn’t rider education, please don’t go riding your motorcycle faster because I told you to)

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