Perry Maddox explains why leaders must maintain a strategic focus that is “up and out” despite the daily demands that pull us down and in.
“Make a fist.”
Standing in a small, empty house that I’d just rented in Jinja, Uganda, I spoke with our global CEO during my orientation to Restless Development and to the world of senior leadership.
“Next, put your fist under your chin,” he guided me. Relieved that nobody could see me, I followed along.
“Now, try to look at your feet.”
“I can’t,” I replied, trying not to giggle.
“That fist is your management team.”
A Leader’s Gaze is Up and Out.
A decade later, I’ve not forgotten that call.
For the silliness of it, the message stuck. We expect you, as a leader, to maintain a strategic gaze.
Upwards on the bigger picture, longer term thinking and future-facing work. Outwards on the landscape and into the market. Getting out the door into partnerships, communities, listening, fundraising and brand building.
Good leaders work across all directions – up and down, in and out. Of course we still get hands-on and help our teams when they need us, but our strategic focus must remain up and out.
Why? Because most everyone else is working to deliver day in, day out. Running operations, raising funds, delivering programmes, supporting our people. That’s where impact happens.
Beware though, if everyone looks “down”, you’ll soon walk into a wall. Or off a cliff.
In Reality Leaders Get Pulled Down.
It’s great in theory, this ‘up and out’ strategic focus.
In reality, most leaders get pulled down into the detail. A crisis breaks or a big bid needs to be written. Most charities are understaffed with our teams hustling to pull it off. So we get stuck in and help because it’s the right thing to do.
It’s fine to dip into detail and operations. Don’t be that leader who won’t get their hands dirty. It’s important to remain connected to your programmes, your operations and your people.
Just take care not to linger.
I’ve seen many leaders fail here. Some focused so heavily on an internal process or problem that by the time they looked up, it was too late. Income had bottomed out. They were missing opportunities because partners hadn’t seen them in a while. They weren’t on the cutting edge of their field, and it showed.
Get hands-on when you need to. Then get out.
Strategic Focus Means Eyes on the Prize.
Strategic work is not more important than delivery. Nor is external work is more important than operations. Successful teams perform all these functions.
The reason that you must stay up and out is simple. It’s what leaders do. We are often the only, or one of few, in a team with that remit. If we don’t do it, who will?
While everyone is making our work happen today, leaders scan the horizon for risk and opportunity, building relationships that will pay off in the medium term and charting a course into the future. We don’t do it alone, but leaders are responsible for the direction of the organisation and for the cultivation of the relationships and resources to get there.
Ever watch little kids kicking a ball around?
They watch their feet, focused on controlling the ball. Now watch a professional with the ball at her feet. She’s not looking down. She’s looking up at the field, at the players on both teams, and towards the goal.
That’s you, leaders.
Now Make a Fist to Protect your Strategic Focus.
You will be pulled down.
What you do about it will either limit or unleash you as a leader.
Start with your team. A weak team is guaranteed to drag you down. Build a great team though, and the day to day will need you less.
Personal discipline is key. Even a great team won’t save you every time, so observe why you get pulled down. Study your schedule and assess where spend your time. Identify the factors that enable or prevent you from keeping your head up.
Then act on this insight.
I’ve been buried in meetings this year, so I declared “let me work Wednesdays” in my calendar recently. I simply won’t take a meeting on Wednesdays. That space has made a huge difference in keeping my gaze up during a turbulent year.
It won’t work forever though. I’ll need to make another adjustment before long. That’s ok. There are many ways to make a fist.
Just remember to stick it under your chin.
2 Comments
“Ever watch little kids kicking a ball around?
They watch their feet, focused on controlling the ball. Now watch a professional with the ball at her feet. She’s not looking down. She’s looking up at the field, at the players on both teams, and towards the goal.”
Really conveys the message well.
As someone who has to look at my feet to kick a ball around, it’s a sensation I know well. Probably why they stuck me in the goal…