If you’ve seen me do a leadership retreat, you’ve likely seen me present my Playdoh metaphor.
The basic idea?
If you think Playdoh is perfect and leave it out, it dries up.
If you keep your Playdoh locked in a container, it does nothing.
If you utilize your Playdoh and collaborate and practice, you can create.
In the same way…
If you think your leadership is perfect and don’t continue development, you dry up.
If you keep your leadership locked in a classroom or boardroom, you serve no one.
If you utilize your leadership, learning, challenging, and growing, you can innovate and serve.
I like the metaphor and share it often.
I was thinking about it a bunch over the past week.
Several years ago, a student in the audience approached me and expressed interest in becoming a speaker. I gave him the same offer I give any student who desires this career path and began a gradual email dialogue. Unlike most students, he really dove into the pursuit and is now someone I consider a good friend and colleague.
Just over two years ago I was asked to talk with the new technology leader for an organization and share some of the insights I had about some developing services online. In our first few conversations I was able to give a lot of input and advice. Now I basically sit in the student’s chair as he really teaches me. He too, is someone I consider a good friend and colleague.
And then I realize the value of a Playdoh leadership relationship.
Last week I saw both of these men at the CADA Convention in San Diego. Both of them have taken any small piece of input I might have provided and gone way further in their respective areas than I could have ever imagined. I might have given them a small piece of playdoh, but now they provide me with so much more. They are opening my eyes to new possibilities.
I’m challenged by them. I learn from them.
I’ll be able to serve my audiences better simply because I have the chance to know them.
I hope you also have people like this in your life–those that push you to be better.
It simply makes life better.
(Thank you Scott & Matt)