I once interviewed a guy who said that he gave his people enough leash not to choke themselves. I never really liked that visual. Recently, I heard a CEO talk about leading with a kite not a leash. The idea being that a kite can float and move in various directions while the kite flyer gently guides and keeps the kite airborne. It’s a much better visual than choking people with a leash. It’s also quite fitting in the disruptive world of work. Outside forces (rain, wind, trees) can cause a kite to get tangled, disoriented and plunge to the earth. Leaders need to anticipate changes, shift direction and, from time to time, pick up the pieces. I think we’re in the era of kite leadership for sure.
#leadershiptruth
