Vantage Point: On the Field, On the Side Lines or In the Press Box?
- Post By: Greg Crumpton
- Date:
- Category: Blog
Do you ever wonder if you are in the proper spot at the proper time to make the best call possible? As a small company owner, I think this is a common question. As many times a day as you must change hats, you must also decide what the proper vantage point is that will allow you to help your company, crew, team (or insert your groups moniker here) make the best possible decision(s) based on the information available.
All too often it probably comes down to what is at stake. Is it a $25.00 issue and you can roll the dice and see how it goes without involvement? Is the price high, either financially or reputation-wise, where you think, “No, we just can’t risk it”? You always have to ask yourself what is best for the person or team you are leading.
Can you jump in as a team member and plow through the mud of a dirty situation and lead by example? Sure you can, but is it always the best thing? Can you take a position as a coach and guide from the side lines? Encouraging, but not be the one out there, muddy, dirty and cold? Absolutely, you can. Should you take a perch atop the press box or spotters stand and guide from afar? Yes, and you should. You should do all three of these things, as each situation dictates.
Do you think your company is too big for this? Check this story out.
Not too long after 9-11-01 a friend of mine was walking through the airport in Dallas, the small one called Love Field. Love is the home base for Southwest Airlines. Jeffrey told me that the whole place was deserted, as most airports were. The whole travel world had been shaken to it’s core, along with the rest of us. So he walks over to the Southwest gate and greets the agent. He says, “Hey, how is it going, she says, “Not so bad.” Wow, he thought. “Really?” he says to her. She replies, “Yes, obviously we hate what is going on and what happened, but we are OK.” At that point, Jeffrey said his curiosity meter was pegged, so he had to know more. He says to the agent, “I figured you guys would be laying people off and doing all of the things all of the other airlines are doing.” The engaged agent says, “Herb would rather sell airplanes than lay people off.” Herb? Who refers to the CEO as “Herb”, his first name? Herb isn’t just any Herb… he is Herb Kelleher, then CEO and and head bad-ass of Southwest airlines. How did she know about Herb, she was JUST a gate agent? Well, if you know anything about Southwest Airlines and/or Herb, you probably aren’t surprised to hear that. If you are, then get on Amazon and order Nuts, the seminal book by The Freiberg’s regarding the Southwest “Way of Life”. Herb knew when to take what role, he could connect on many levels; teammate, coach, guide, spotter, whatever was needed. Situational leadership, evolving with the situation at-hand.
As an owner, manager or leader, we never want to blow a call. Making sure we have the right vantage point is a critical part of making sure we have the information we need to make the best decisions.
Are you Herb enough?
