Why Do They Have The Headlights On?
Something interesting happened as I drove out at the crack of dawn last week.
It was 6.15 a.m., just before the official sunrise time when I got into the car and made my way. The light was good so I didn’t need to turn on the headlights. As I hit the main road, and stepped on the accelerator, I noticed something strange. Several of the oncoming cars had their headlamps on. I wondered aloud why those drivers had their headlights on - even though there seemed to be sufficient light.
And then the wife offered an explanation. These must be people who left home much, much earlier, she said. They probably started their journeys while it was still dark. Made sense. They must have been driving for a while I thought – and they needed the lights. By their reckoning, the visibility was okay now only because they had their lights on. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they also looked at my car and thought to themselves: Why isn’t he turning on his headlights?
Has this happened with you too? Were you the one with the lights on – or were you wondering why the other guy didn’t turn on his headlights? I am guessing this is a scene that plays out every morning on the streets across our cities.
If you think about it, maybe it’s a scene that also plays out across organisations every time a new leader comes in. Coming in from a different background, and at a different point in time compared to the rest of the team, the leader charges in, confident he (or she) doesn’t need the headlights. And then they see the rest of the organisation happily driving with their lights on.
The new leader uses every opportunity he can – team meetings, cafeteria conversations and debriefs to his boss – to talk about how everyone is unnecessarily driving with their lights. He can see the problem. He can see the urgent need for change! And all the time, his team is probably wondering why the new boss isn’t switching on his headlights.
So if you are a new leader moving in, maybe a good idea to remember the driving experience. It could teach you four simple lessons that could help you gain acceptance quickly and settle in better in your new role.
One, before suggesting someone else needs to change – ask yourself if you are the one who needs to change. Is the light really good enough? Maybe you are over-estimating how bright it is! Perhaps, you need to turn on the lights.
Two, show empathy for the other guys. Remember, our behaviour is influenced by our experience – and impacted by where we are coming from. In our minds, we are right. We don’t like it when we are told we are doing the wrong thing.
Three, give it time. In a while, they will notice that the light has got better, and they will turn off the headlights. Someone just needs to say, “Wow, it’s a wonderful, bright morning!” and the driver usually gets the hint.
And four, as a new leader, focus on the vitals, the essentials. Not on trivia. If the other drivers are driving safe – and headed in the right direction, it doesn’t really matter if they have their headlights on for a bit longer than necessary.
Remember that. And enjoy the drive!
