Insights

Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to spend a week at the beach, enjoying a much-needed break with my family. Aside from time spent in the water playing with my wife and sons, I took an opportunity to indulge in activities my daily routine does not allow for: golf, fishing and surfing.  Golf and fishing typically take a back seat simply due to a lack of free time. Surfing, on the other hand, is a once a year prospect, primarily due to the fact that I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Until surfing the three rivers becomes a possibility, I must wait for the annual trip to the beach.

Unfortunately, a byproduct of infrequent surfing is the fact that I get to spend the first several days of vacation learning the functional basics of “how to surf” all over again. Typically this means that I do not hit a level of proficiency, where I can both catch and ride a wave until my vacation is at least halfway over. While I spent the necessary time undergoing this process for 2017, I found my mind wandering to the many ways surfing parallels leadership. Stick with me on this one; it may seem like a reach, but in many ways, the skills learned in the one, are vital for success in the other.

Patience

Unfortunately, actual video footage exists of me sitting on a surf board, facing the expanse of the ocean, desperately waiting for waves that just won’t come. Every time my wife thinks of it, she simultaneously laughs and lets out a tender “aww.” Given how rarely I surf, I find that I am willing to sit and wait for extended periods of time, looking for the right wave.

In much the same way, a leader must demonstrate high levels of patience. Rarely do goals, plans or expectations play out in the desired time frames we so foolishly impose upon them. Instead, we must wait with active expectation for goals to be realized. Dan Brian, COO of WhipClip put it best, when he stated, “Patience is really courage that’s meant to test your commitment to your cause.” How committed are you to experiencing the high of riding that next wave?

Perseverance

After an extended period of time spent waiting for a rideable wave, there is nothing more frustrating and disappointing than failing to get that wave. Whether it is not catching the wave or falling off right after popping up, the result is the same: a missed opportunity. Regardless of the disappointment of a missed opportunity, it is necessary to once again paddle out to the lineup (the place surfers wait to catch waves) and wait for the next chance. I have spent many times repeating this cycle and battling the frustration that can all too easily take over. However, eventually the tenacity is rewarded, all of the elements line up and I successfully ride a wave.

Leadership is very much the same process: effectively handling missed opportunities and relentlessly entering the lineup again for another chance. A true leader knows that each attempt provides a lesson in bettering performance the next time. After all, when referencing his many attempts and failures at creating the incandescent light bulb Thomas Edison stated, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Edison was clearly committed to his cause.

Balance

For the first time, this year on vacation, I attempted to teach my older two sons how to surf. Of all of the lessons they needed to learn, potentially the most challenging is "balance." If you are not in the right position on the board it is easy to lose footing and fall off. If you are too far forward, as you paddle to catch a wave, the nose of the board can dip and you will be thrown. If you are too far back on the board, your body creates drag in the water and it is impossible to even catch the wave. You must be in precisely the right location, in control of your body and board at all times. After many times falling, my sons began to understand what I meant. I set a clear process of when to move, where to stand and how to ride and ultimately the boys each found success, riding waves all the way into shore.

Effective leadership demands balance: balancing the needs of the client and the needs of the company; balancing work and personal life; balancing goals and reasonable expectations. In any of these areas, if the leader is out of balance the result can be catastrophic for all. The leader must be aware of themselves, those that they lead and those that they serve. The leader must know what can be handled and what will push the team to the point of breaking. Moreover, the leader must have the courage to establish boundaries in order to create balance and opportunities for success. While boundaries may seem to confine, the effective leader knows that these boundaries serve as guidelines to enable success.

While there are many other parallels between surfing and leadership, these were at the top of my list. Perhaps it is because this is where I need the most help in my surfing or because this is where I believe most leaders struggle. What about you? What leadership trait would you add to this list?