Are you a leader? Only if people will follow you.

A Lesson in Leadership

In the labyrinth better known as Florence, Italy, they were presented with a simple task: walk to the train station to catch the bus for the 10- hour, prepaid tour of Tuscany. The only problem was they were up against the clock. Held back by an unanticipated task, Keen, the trip coordinator and the one most knowledgeable about the area, would not be able to guide the group to the train station. Keen would meet them there.

Lesson 1: Lead, with confidence and conviction.

Having navigated trickier terrain and lands countless times with success, Chris assumed the lead. The coordinates were locked in and the direction to go was clear. The map was laid out plainly on the same phone screen that they had been successfully relied upon the night before.

Because the other travelers were not brand new to international travel, many of them had a sense of how to get to the train station as well, each person equipped with their own technology and thoughts about the way forward. One app suggested they should go left, a different app suggested right. Chris spoke again, saying let’s go this way, with assuredness and confidence. Chris was amped and ready to go, having applied the tools to the task at hand. Plus, Chris showed a willingness to take a helm and had already demonstrated their ability to lead earlier on the trip.

Lesson 2: Lead so that they will follow wholeheartedly.

 A choice point quickly emerged. Which way should they go?

With the clock ticking and knowing they had too many cooks in the kitchen each vying to lead, it was time to either scatter or fall back and align behind one leader, one path. The travelers turned in Chris’s direction, answering their beckoning call to go this way. Pat, equally competent and able to take the lead, signaled alignment behind Chris by turning their phone off and storing it away.   

Lesson 3: MOVE, together.

They moved through the streets quickly, some on the sidewalks and others on the uneven, cobblestoned streets. Chris and Pat were walking in front, both wearing baseball caps and Pat in a neon green workout pullover, making it easy to see them from afar. The travelers followed at a staggered distance, based on their own athleticism and ability. They snaked their way through the winding streets, with each triad or pair constantly looking forward to see the subgroup ahead and looking backwards, to make sure the people behind could see them. No one said it, yet it was unspoken and palatable: no one would be left behind.

Lesson 4: Make space for shifts.

Winded and stressed, the travelers arrived where the map led them. The only problem was it wasn’t the train station.

Chris looked agonized and stunned. Chris and Pat talked to two officers who were standing nearby and they suggested that the group call taxis—they had gone too far in the wrong direction. Ha! Taxis had been hit or miss on this trip, sometimes arriving as promised, other times canceling at the last minute. Chris and Pat were now both equipped with detailed directions from the officers, confirmed by pointed hand gestures for the number of right turns and left turns to make. The travelers again took off behind Chris and Pat, making sure to keep Pat’s neon green pullover in sight.

Chris and Pat arrived at the train station first.

The travelers could see their animated discussion with the Bus Tour operator--It was clear she was miffed that the group was late. The bus had already left the train station. Thinking quickly, the tour operator radioed the bus to pick up the sweaty stragglers at the first stop. She commandeered several taxis, told the drivers where to take them and stepped back, allowing the taxis to speed off.

Lesson 5: Work the back channels.

Meanwhile, Keen, the trip coordinator, was on the phone with the Tour bus owner, working with them to not leave the group behind. Although Keen had the largest group on the tour, the day trip had been prepaid, reducing Keen’s leverage. Savvy and up for the challenge, Keen worked their magic to make sure the bus tour was still a possibility by making sure they would wait for everyone at the first stop.

Lesson 6: Endure.

The taxis arrived at the first stop location before the tour bus, with enough time for the travelers to grab a coffee and croissant. Once on the bus, the tour guide professionally lambasted the travelers for being late and reiterated the need to be on time at each stop going forward. She also provided each person with a map on how to get back to Florence in the event they were late and got left behind. Chris felt it the most: the admonitions and repeated directive to be on time from the tour guide had been well earned. Under their leadership, no less! 

Lesson 7: Both, And, as long as you pack a bit of grace and mercy.

Tuscany was breathtaking. The lush countryside, historical sites and fabled streets were something to behold. However, the travelers could see that Chris was still wearing the morning’s mishap. The travelers reminded Chris that leaders get to make mistakes, and experience glory, in even measure. Being leaders in other parts of their lives, the travelers knew what it meant to lead. They were thankful that Chris took the lead and got them to the train station. It took a while for Chris to remember, again, what they already knew.

Think about the story and ask yourself:

What lessons do I still need to learn? To refresh? To remember, again?

What role would have been easy for you to take? Would you have been the leader? One of the travelers who followed or would you have gone your own way?

Does it Matter Who is Leading?

Notice that the names are unisex. Would it have made a difference if Chris, Pat and Keen were all men, all women or a mix of men and women? Given that this is a true story, what do you think the gender combination was of Keen, Chris, Pat and the travelers and why?

Would race have mattered? What about sexual orientation? What if Keen, Chris, and Pat were all related to each other, and the travelers were all people with their significant others?

I invite you to use this true story as an opportunity to grow from within. Have fun with it and notice what happens to your answers as the identities of the characters change.

Let’s go far, together.

Tracy