I’m an aspiring naturalist. Whenever I can, I enjoy the beauty of the outdoors by hiking, biking, fishing, and kayaking. But I’ve become increasingly aware that my time in nature results in unintended consequences.
As a Boy Scout, I learned and practiced the value of leaving a place better than you found it. My father held me accountable to a similar value every time I borrowed one of his tools. But it’s a challenging creed to live by. Every moment I spend in nature I leave some impression on the landscape that was not there before. I leave footprints in the mud and carve ruts in the trail with the tires of my bike, leading to potential erosion. The animals of the forest no doubt notice my presence and are forced to modify their behavior. Even the trails themselves, which make it possible to walk in the woods without being assaulted by foliage, are evidence of the fact that even the biggest tree huggers among us are complicit in changing the natural landscapes we love so much.
Conscious of this, I work diligently to reduce my environmental impact. When fishing, for example, I carry a small bag for litter. As I walk the streams and rivers of Central New York, there is no shortage of garbage to pick up. Most outings I come home with more trash than fish, but either way, it’s a win! “Leave no trace” is a nice idea, but it is also an impossible standard. “Leave it better than you found it” is a more actionable mantra, and a practical way to counterbalance, if not outright mitigate, the unintended consequences of our actions.
This value can also be applied to leadership. We’ve all, in our own ways, “littered” in our offices–by miscommunicating an important message, leaving someone out of the loop, breaking a commitment, or failing to achieve a goal. These missteps disrupt the flow of the organization in the same way an empty can of beer upsets a picturesque riverside beach. It is our responsibility as leaders to take responsibility and do what we can to clean up the mess.
But even when our performance is stellar, unintended consequences remain a concern. I recall many instances of leaders making monumental strides toward positive changes, achieving all they set out to do, only to discover later that the progress came with a tradeoff or drawback nobody could have forecasted. Maybe a push in an exciting new direction left certain team members feeling left behind. The net change is positive, but truly responsible leaders aren’t satisfied with that. They know they are responsible for all of the consequences of their actions, whether intended or not.
To ameliorate this, I recommend applying Steven Covey’s principle-based habit of being proactive. Leaders who proactively “pick up the litter” along the way are, in my experience, given much more grace than those who let the problems pile up. When you make a habit of owning up and fixing the small stuff, you will be able to maintain high levels of influence and confidence when things go poorly.
As leaders, we are constantly imagining and working toward a better future. Let’s not forget to make things better along the way. This means pausing, being present, and looking with courage at the environment you are co-creating. As you ramp up speed on a big project, consider checking in on the people around you, as well as those working remotely. Pick up the phone and thank one of your employees out of the blue. Before or after your next important meeting, stop and share a quick story with one of your colleagues to remind them it’s okay to be vulnerable and authentic.
And if you notice an opportunity to make your work environment more harmonious, take advantage! Stop and pick up the little scrap of paper in the hallway or clean the counter in the breakroom. Even if no one notices, you’ll know you’ve left things better than you found them.
If you’re interested in becoming more mindful of the consequences of your actions, send me an email at bill@getemergent.com.
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