The third entry in the Leadership thread of my Vision Statements series, How Leading Is Like Driving (Safely), develops an analogy that connects two of life’s great challenges: leading and driving. The structure of this post applies audience input (some of my readers really like short, quick points) and reflects the fun of developing an a-ha recognition. Enjoy!

Leadership, like life, is similar to driving: you need to check the rear view mirror to be mindful of what is behind you, but need to focus primarily on what lies ahead through the windshield.

I first thought of that little kernel of wisdom while I was out running, and was so proud of my spasm of brilliance that I left a breathless voice memo on my phone. Before I could anoint myself as the smartest person ever, however, a quick Google search revealed that others had apparently made the same analogy. 

Sigh.

Still, I was inspired by how the image captured the mindset of being in the moment while also considering the twin needs of looking ahead to the future and staying aware, though not fixated, on the past. I set to work generating the structure of this entry and was particularly jazzed to employ this driving extended metaphor as a relatable speaking point. And then I sat down to write the first draft. 

It wasn’t good. 

I couldn’t get the ideas flowing beyond what I felt was a strong opening paragraph. So I thought about it more, looking through the proverbial windshield at what else could connect driving to education leadership. Here’s what I realized:

• When in unfamiliar areas, drivers need some type of navigation to guide them. In this sense, even the person in control needs support.
• Building on the navigation point, drivers need to appreciate that there are myriad routes to most destinations. Leaders need to be flexible to consider that multiple possibilities can get you to the place you need to be.
• This might be a byproduct of living and driving in North Jersey, but most danger is incurred by the carelessness of others. Educational leaders need to be prepared to clean up the messes created by others, and to treat each near miss or actual collision as an opportunity for growth and learning for themselves and the staff members involved. The problem in both driving and leading is that we don’t always know where the driver of torment is coming from; with experience, we become better equipped to anticipate likely incidents, but will still get blindsided at times.
• If you engage in road rage, there is really only one logical outcome that can ensue, and it’s a bad one. The message here is to keep your cool and look to what outcome you hope to achieve. Screaming and carrying on have been proven to be remarkably ineffective in the long run; however, the leaders who remain calm and maintain perspective when somebody cuts them off or otherwise encroaches in their lane are less likely to engage in the workplace equivalent of a high stakes tit-for-tat that jeopardizes the safety of everyone.
• Since I mentioned it, the phrase of staying in your lane doesn’t completely work in educational leadership. Sometimes we have to depart our lane to pitch in as needed, but it is also important to know your role and fulfill it without stepping on other people’s toes.
• American writer Anne Lamott made a great point about how writing is a lot like driving at night in that you can only see as far as your headlights can project but still have an idea of your ultimate destination. Leading in an educational environment is similar. Rare is the day that goes according to plan, or the week that leaves you saying “Boy, that sure was predictable” on Friday. Know where you want to take your team, and stay the course even if you can’t see exactly how you’re going to get there.
• Take breaks. Truck drivers have to keep logs and are limited in the hours that they can drive for good reason. We’re much more accident prone when we’re drained, and the greatest mistakes can often be attributed to tired minds and bodies. Give yourself permission to step out of the car sometimes and stretch your legs. It is noble to have great stamina and drive, but that doesn’t typically endure for the long run.
• Be safe. Driving too fast is dangerous. Likewise, driving too slow can be equally hazardous. Adapt according to the conditions and assess how much risk can be sustained. There is risk inherent to every type of movement, and there is healthy risk that can lead to reward. So maybe this point would be better made as “be safe and be smart.”

Thanks for reading. Drive carefully and lead fearlessly! And have fun.

Vision Statement: Be the driver who moves things forward, but do so responsibly and intelligently. And sometimes bulleted statements do the trick.