Blast Off to Leadership

Recently, the world witnessed some extraordinary feats…one of those being Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson both going into space. They are now astronauts!

Based on the Wiki definition of astronaut, it is usually a “person trained, equipped, and deployed by a human spaceflight program to serve as a commander or crew member aboard a spacecraft” and also “sometimes applied to anyone who travels into space”.

This got me thinking: The latter definition also relates to leadership in organizations. Sometimes, people refer to executives as “leadership;” however, serving in an executive role doesn’t always mean you exhibit leadership. Often, people “arrive” in a role but aren’t ready (mentally or energetically) for what’s required.

Consider the recent example of Simone Biles and her decision to extract herself from the Tokyo Olympics’ gymnastics competition to focus on her well-being. Getting to a place or point in time is one thing; having what you need to perform is another. Simone’s decision is a good reminder that when people know what they need and execute (or not) accordingly, we should believe and support them.

When you approach your “apparatus,” be sure you’re ready. Leadership requires awareness combined with courage. It also means knowing that others’ expectations of you always come second to your own sense of readiness to perform.

The mark of brilliant leadership is acting in service of something bigger than you in order to make a difference in your world. In the words of 1968 Olympian John Carlos, “I’m not here for the moment…I’m here for the movement.” Every day, you get to decide what leadership you will demonstrate to make a difference in your world.