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Leadership and Fear

Written by: Douglas Long

Article Overview: As entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders, how do you learn? Learning by experience is not necessarily bad – sometimes, however, it can be extremely costly. Is it something that you can always afford? People with their brain’s locus of control in the “Blue Zone” are prepared to learn from coaches and mentors as well as from experience.

Leadership and Fear

Last weekend it was pouring with rain in Sydney, Australia. My son and his mates decided to go on their usual 4WD adventure and, as was to be expected, managed to get at least one of the 4WD's bogged. While they were pulling it out (they always have at least 4 vehicles in their party for safety reasons) another vehicle came up and the guys in it ridiculed them for getting stuck. Noticing that they had no support vehicles, my son and his mates warned the newcomers to be very careful as the conditions were quite dangerous - especially if you had little or no experience and/or were on your own. The newcomers jeered and sped off - this was a new vehicle and they were having fun.

A few minutes later when my son and his mates were restarting their bogged vehicle there was an urgent scream for help over the VHF radio. The newcomers had gone into water and the vehicle was filling rapidly. They were totally bogged, helpless and panicking. When my son's mates reached the accident they found that the doors were locked shut and water inside the car was at the point where possible drowning was a reality. In addition, the driver hadn't known enough to immediately shut off his engine when it went under water and, because there was no snorkel, the turbo charger had ensured there was water throughout the engine. Rescuing the vehicle and occupants was reasonably easy compared with getting the vehicle sufficiently mobile for it to make its way back to the nearest workshop where major repairs could be done. Of course, they had totally voided the vehicle's new car warranty so repairs are going to be very expensive.

I think there's a metaphor here for what sometimes happens in organisations.

There are times when some managers and leaders seem to follow a "crash through or crash" philosophy in relation to achieving results and/or introducing change. When this happens it is not uncommon for those in a hurry to ridicule those who are a little more experienced and/or cautious. The impact on everyone can be extremely traumatic in the event of things going wrong.

This is particularly the case with people in the early stages of their careers either as entrepreneurs or as managers / leaders. The Adizes organisation (you can find them at Adizes.net) offer a free diagnostic to help entrepreneurs understand where they stand on the organisational lifecycle. One of the early traps they list "the founder's trap" in which the entrepreneur persists in doing everything and in which "just do it" can easily be a substitute for considered progress.

But the trap of "just do it" is equally one for the ambitious - especially if ambition is coupled with inexperience.

A good example of this relates to the management of change.

A few days ago someone was telling me of change that is about to take place at his work. He tells me that his team was called together last week and told about proposed changes to their reporting structure and operations. They were then asked to make any suggestions but the team were given no time to discuss the changes among themselves and/or to work out how they felt about things. A few suggestions were made and then they were told that the changes as proposed would be implemented with effect from February 15. I understand that most of the team are now actively seeking new jobs and that, if they are successful, a number of key IT projects on which they are working are liable to have serious problems - and the team members no longer care about this impact on their present employer.

I'm not sure whether this "crash through or crash" approach indicates stupidity or blissful ignorance. I do know that it indicates a less than healthy mind state in which caution, apprehension, or fear seem to equated with cowardice and so any such feelings are suppressed and "getting it done no matter what" is the drive for the manager involved.

Good leaders know that caution, apprehension, and/or fear can be a positive emotion. It can tell you that things need a bit of consideration before embarking on action. It can enable you to consider alternative ways of attaining your goal. It can lead you to new learning in a very positive way. That's why good leaders generally listen carefully to advice and suggestions from those with more experience.

But for this to happen the entrepreneur, leader or manager needs to have their brain's locus of control firmly set in "the blue zone" (see, for example, The Brain of a Leader, It Starts in the Brain, Brains Complexity Leaders, Neuroscience and Leadership). "Red Zone" locus of control sees caution, apprehension, or fear as a negative emotion that provides the impulse to flee, fight, or freeze. The response is instinctive and without any consideration. Bravado and "just do it" take over from sensible interaction and prevent any high level learning from occurring - unless the result is a disaster or near disaster that leads to "learning by experience".

The young men who almost killed themselves while out 4WDriving will probably learn from experience. It's a lesson that has cost them a lot of money. It's an experiential learning they didn't need to have - the experience and advice available to them (and freely given) could have enabled them to have a far more positive and enjoyable experience.

As entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders, how do you learn? Learning by experience is not necessarily bad - sometimes, however, it can be extremely costly. Is it something that you can always afford? People with their brain's locus of control in the "Blue Zone" are prepared to learn from coaches and mentors as well as from experience.

Who's your mentor?

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  Leadership Assessment #21 – Build a SAFE Environment

Article Tags: 4wd, blue zone, brains, leadership, locus of control, mentors, red zone



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