159. Focused leadership in a world of frenzy

Ever found leadership lessons in the most unexpected places?

In this episode, I share an eye-opening experience from a simple visit to an ice cream shop. Discover how a single employee’s focused and calm demeanor transformed my perspective on leadership and productivity.

Tune in to learn how you can leverage focus over frenzy to create a ripple of efficiency and calm within your teams.

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-m-schmidt/

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Transcript

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You know, what's fun. Sometimes leadership lessons can show up in the most unexpected places. Have you experienced that? For me, it happened about a year ago. Now when we were visiting colleges with our oldest son who actually is about to leave for college in three weeks. So hopefully I can hold it together for that. But anyway, we were visiting college towns and we had stopped for some ice cream. And the experience that I had in that ice cream shop, actually waiting in line. Is something that has stuck in my mind for over a year. And pair with my growing dislike and concern over our worship of performative. Busy-ness. Especially in our remote workplaces. This experience has finally grown through reflection into a lesson that is benefiting how I lead. Isn't that great. Go into an ice cream shop. Wait in line. Do a year of reflection. And get out a valuable lesson. So let's get into it. I'm Terry Schmidt, podcast, host and leadership coach at strong leaders serve. Where we support women leaders and capitalizing on their strengths to achieve individual and team success. And this is the strong leader serve podcast. So, let me take you back about a year. It was a very hot day. Um,, not that we needed that excuse to go get ice cream, but I was waiting in line with my daughter. For some ice cream as my son and my husband went on a college tour. It was a long line and there was only one person working. And as I watched that person work. I was struck. By how she didn't really seem to care that there was a long line winding out the door. And to be honest, initially, I was a little bit annoyed. I mean after all didn't she see us? Why weren't her facial expressions and speed of movement reflective of the inconvenience she was causing us by making us wait. Why wasn't she rushing around and looking stressed? Like I would have been. I remember similar experiences, like when I was leading the amazing kindness raise for our nonprofit. And we had a lot of property to cover at the brewery that I was, that held at. And I was rushing around like mad woman. Um,, I probably looked crazy. Walking fast running from station to station, just to make sure that people understood that I was in it for them. And I remember back at a part-time job when I was working at a bank and there'd be a long line in the, in the checkout, in the teller I would do the same thing, rush around and just make sure that people knew. That I cared. That my efforts to show that I was on top of it. And I was responsive to people's needs. I made mistakes. That frenzy led to errors. I passed.. to those around me who were watching me. If actually adapt to what we're seeing around us. And we can internalize the stress of people that we see. That's why it's so hard to listen to someone, making a speech. Or doing a podcast that sounds uncomfortable. You actually take on their stress and their nervousness as you're listening to them. So I was having the same impact as I was running around. Trying to look like I cared. But at the same time, Performing poorly for the people that I was trying to show that I cared about as I was making errors and probably not operating as efficiently as I could. with the more focused approach of this employee at the ice cream shop. As I was in line. I started looking at the customers around me. And what I observed was different from what I expected. There was actually a general calm among the customers. me. Especially when I was feeling annoyed inside. I thought for sure people would be getting upset. But they weren't. As I thought about why not. And as I continued to reflect on it for the past year, I've come to the conclusion that it seems. That the focused and friendly execution of tasks had given those around me a sense of stability. about her. Each of her movements had a purpose. Like they were her only one, even though there was a line of customers behind that person. on me and everyone else that was waiting in line around me. We knew that she would get the job done. And that we would get our, get our ice cream and a time. And with a predictable smile. We could see that by observing her, serve the other customers. stability was enough to create a positive, peaceful line. Well, as I referenced in the opening. I have a certain aversion to the phrase. I'm busy or it was busy. Whenever I ask someone how their week or their day was. Being busy was actually a badge of honor. And in our remote workplaces, it's gotten even worse. You may have heard people talking about productivity, paranoia. The need to show that you are actually working really hard so that your leader. Doesn't think that you're just out walking the dog or doing something else. going away. like I mentioned, in a remote work environment to show that you're busy either through your packed calendar or making sure that your Ms team's status is always red. Is very much there. And the pressure to respond to notifications and messages instantly. Is documented. And recent research that Atlassian did in their state of the, which they shared One of the findings in that was that 65% of respondents felt it was more important to react to notifications than it was to progress important work. Think about that for a minute. If we are so focused on productivity and getting things done. What impact does it have that most of the people that we lead are more concerned about instantly responding to notifications. Instead of making progress on their strategic goals. to show that I cared. By responding to people right away. By running station to station at that event that I talked about. Our employees and showing, and responding and feeling the need right away. by being more focused, just like the employee working at the ice cream store. So, what In fact, it turns out that focus is faster than frenzy. Even in a fast paced environment, focus allows her slow considered action that keeps processes moving efficiently. And contrast. Frenzy has fast movement that slows processes. I'm coming to learn that focus, especially in our current times, requires both offensive. And sometimes even more so. Defensive techniques. For example, when I coach my clients to stay present with them, I have to defend against the many voices in my head. My inner critic, my advice monster, that is formulating my next question. Instead of listening to my client's answer. And many other voices. But as I become more and more aware of these potential distractions, I can employ simple defensive techniques that allow me to remain present and stay curious. And that allows for space for me to rely on the training and experience that I've received. To use a process. The offensive technique. That works. With the end result, being that the client's possibilities expand as our time together opens new awareness. And allows them to capitalize on their strengths. To achieve individual and team outcomes. Let's look at these clients and the environments that they operate in as another example of how focus is faster than frenzy. Most of my clients are in corporate America. And of course they operate in a business environment where productivity and speed rain. But if they want to go fast, they'd be better off learning to truly focus. One of the main defensive techniques that they have to employ to focus. Is to resist the lure of performative frenzy. Remember when I was talking about that pressure to show that you're busy by packing your calendar. Or making sure that your Ms team's status is always red. How do you defend against that? How do you instead focus on making progress on real work? And how do you set guidelines on your team to show them. That you're not interested in performative frenzy. But our. Interested in focus that drives performance. progress on their projects. It all starts with you. And what you choose to prioritize. you work. Now it's probably going to be different for everyone, but finding the defensive techniques that work for you. And pairing them with offensive techniques that turn focus into results. Not only helps you to move faster. But also. As I talked about at the ice cream store. Creates a ripple of calm and effective and efficient execution around you. So I'm curious, what are your techniques? How do you stay focused? When there's such a pole. look frenzied. As I talked about in previous episodes, I'd love to hear from you by you sending me a text message just by clicking right on that link that is in the show notes. love to your strategies with the rest of the leaders who are listening. So be sure to include your name. If you'd like me to give you a shout out on the next episode. And I look forward to sharing a great conversation that I had with yours. Koenigsegg on our next episode. Talking about why radical humility in leadership is actually more efficient being hero and operating from a command and control That will be coming your way and a couple of weeks on July 22nd. And until then, Lead with this quote by Steve jobs in mind. Deciding what not to do. Is as important. As deciding what to do.