Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day and at 0630hrs my local triathlon club held their now annual 5k charity swim. Over the last month or so our swim coaches tailored our sessions for distance so we were all well-prepped. Swimming 5k is no joke and I’m still feeling it as I write this. The coaches broke the entire swim down into a very manageable set which gave us time to hydrate, recover and reorganise. It also helped to alleviate the boredom. Over 50 club members completed the distance in the two hours allotted and we all went on our merry way afterwards looking forward to the rest of the day, and indeed the beginning of the triathlon season, which is just over the horizon.
Each person took their turn at the front, which is important as leading a lane is physically and mentally much harder than drafting – swimming in someone else’s slip stream. Drafting reduces drag and energy output by between 20 to 30%.
It makes sense for the fittest swimmer in the lane to lead the group but sooner or later they’re going to run out of steam and need to rest and recuperate. I’ve never seen anyone complain when someone else steps up to do their shift at the front. The people who take over have the fitness, are more than willing and are able to keep the show on the road at a decent pace.
Swimming at the front can be both lonely and exhausting. A bit like business really. The problem in business is that the leader either isn’t willing to move over or the next in line isn’t ready to step up.
Down to Business
In businesses that are growing many SME leaders feel the need to solve every problem and do every deal. They neuter their staff either through infantilising them or not investing in their development. When they finally run out of steam there’s no one ready to pick up the pieces and the business can go into a tailspin.
Yesterday in the swim lanes we rotated the leadership regularly. When one of us tired at the front the next person had the fitness and mindset to keep going and the pace never dropped. The show stayed on the road.
In business, good leaders do the same. They protect their energy and as soon as it’s practical they build a team who can support them. When they are tired or want some time out the organisation doesn’t collapse and people don’t break out in rashes.
My first boss invested in his team and trained us well. He loved clearing stuff off his desk and passing it on to us so he could put his feet up and focus on what really mattered. My worst boss didn’t take the time to develop us. She ruined our evenings with conference calls the length of football matches so that she could choreography our every move. She was a ball of anxiety and so were we.
Remember, no matter how good you are, sooner or later you’re going to run out of steam and you’ll need someone to take over for a while. Invest in your people so that your organisation doesn’t drown while you recover.
What next?
I coach SME leaders on how to build and grow high-performing businesses. If you’re stuck in the daily grind and unable to escape check out my “Eyes on the Horizon” coaching programme and let’s have a chat.
