Passion & Capability, Chapter 5

I couldn't help but feel the sponginess of the running track's surface, as we walked laps.

It felt good on my feet... 

As I pondered this physical experience...I had to laugh at the parallel universes that we unintentionally created by our exercise routine.  My latest challenge was not unlike the track we were on...soft and spongy...clearly marked lanes and absolutely circular...about the time you thought you had finished...you were back at the beginning!

We walked at a gait that made talking nearly impossible...suddenly he slowed...and he began to chatter...

"A person can put on running shoes...but that does not make him a marathon runner..."

"When I was in the army...we used to say that a person could put on a uniform...but that didn't make him a soldier..."

"When I went to college...we used to say...you can put on a helmet and your pads...but that doesn't make you a football player..."

"When I moved into industry...we said...you can have a title...but that doesn't make you a leader!"

"From what I am hearing...you seemed perplexed by the challenges that I am facing," I prodded..."

"I am not perplexed...your challenges are bringing back some interesting experiences and thoughts..."

"It reminds me to always keep, what I claim to be and what I produce, in the forefront of my mind...you can not take that for granted..."


"A person is either a contributor to THE GAME that they are playing...or...they are being carried by the team..."

"...if you are a defensive player...your goal is to stop your opponent from scoring...if you can not specifically point to the number of points that you stopped...then your team is carrying you..."

"...the same holds true for an offensive player...if you can not count the number of points you made...then the team is carrying you..."


"In an individuals' game, like running...putting on a pair of shoes and running is not racing...

"...have you bettered your previous time?"

"...Have you placed higher in the final rankings?"

"...If you can not answer yes...you are letting your team (yourself) down..."


"In leadership...title is just like the uniform...it's permission to play the game...or run in the race...but as with sports...you are a contributor...or the team is carrying you!"


"A leader has many roles...if a leader ever says...that is not my job...it can be an indicator of a leadership weakness...ultimately every job under their control...is their job...if they are not doing themselves...they have found a way to get it done better..."


"I find it distressing when I find a leaders who is being carried by the team...they ultimately are not on their game..."


"It is just like watching a football game and seeing the star just slack-off"


"That game is lost"


"Companies need to develop ways to identify those who they are carrying and address those issues"


"In sports...they do a pretty good job of doing that...

"...When a player is in a kids league...everyone gets playing time..."

"...As the game gets more competitive...more serious...the poor players get less and less playing time...if they play, they are simply placeholders to give the real players a rest..."

"...In invitational sports...bad players do not get invited back...to do what they do...(kind of like consulting, huh?)..."


That is because you either score points or divert points...that is an easy count...or you either place...or win...that is an easy count...if you do not do that...you can't really call yourself a player...you really aren't part of the team...and should delude yourself into believing that you are..."


"Leaders are organizational players...many wrongly think that they are simply team coaches or managers..."


"That is wrong"

"Great leaders recognize the fact that they are fully responsible for every job under their control...and that they have hired others, directly or indirectly, to help them..."

"Normally a leader "washes their hands" of the task...and then becomes a critic...rather than showing the appreciation for the help!"

"A Great leader steps up and works along side those who are on their team..."

"A leader's responsibility is all about Satisfaction...Involvement...Engagement...Promotion..."

"Those things can not be done from behind a desk..."

"But must be seen consistently in the trenches..."

"When I think about it...This is the epiphany that your "half-man" must have..."

"He does not have to see how is department is performing...his department has captured that reality..."

"He needs to capture the true essence of leadership...and how he is falling short...when that happens..."

"Don't you mean IF?" I asked...

"IF is not an option, for you..."

"You need to run in circles around that proverbial "organizational track" until you and him cross the finish-line together..."

"Just remember that he is a marathon man...or at least he thinks he is...he has some endurance...and can hold on to his race longer than most people that you have encountered..."

"I am done with this exercise...are you?"

I agreed...

"Let's go see how you do on the next race..."