Just as I settled in to watch two college football matchups, the phone rang. “Dad, I’ve got a flat tire.” She was safe, but in need of help. So, I jumped into action. As I drove to her, I found myself a little bugged that my perfect Saturday afternoon was interrupted. It got me thinking about the leader’s life which is often filled with constant interruptions.

This Week’s Edition

As a leader, do you experience interruptions – unplanned events that take your focus off what you really need to accomplish? How should you think about the inevitable interruptions and your reaction to them?

Clarify Your Thinking

In our coaching sessions, leaders raise the issue of interruptions often. They tell of being fully prepared to get something significant done and the phone rings. Boom… a flat tire. Then another. And another. Days go by and a leader is not able to address their agenda. Too many interruptions!

Brian, a top leader, recently asked, “Robin, it’s one thing after another. When will it ever end?” As he recounted his recent interruptions, he described his frustration with his team:  

• I’m bugged that Mary didn’t do it right.

• I’m frustrated because John didn’t know how to do it.

• I’m irritated because Charles did it differently than I would have done it.

Brian went on to confess, “I think my reaction to these interruptions is coming across a little too sharp, leaving my team feeling a little less than confident. I’m seeing my otherwise competent team begin to doubt themselves on a significant level. What do you think I should do?” 

“Go ask them about it,” I said. “You care about them. You have a big relationship with them. Ask them.” He did. Here were their answers:

• I’m trying hard, but I don’t think I can meet your expectations.

• You’ve given me explicit authority, but you don’t let me exercise it.

• If you think I’m capable, the way you interact with me makes me think the opposite.

Old Thinking: All these interruptions are getting in the way of my productivity. 

New Thinking: My team’s challenges are my opportunity to connect with them, teach them something new, train them for their role and coach them to the next level of performance.

Thoughts Lead to Actions

On my drive to help my daughter, I realized that my approach to her situation was going to influence our shared experience. An air of frustration would indicate she had done something wrong or disappointed me. She hadn’t. Changing my thinking to seeing interruption as an opportunity led me to create what ended up being a wonderful father-daughter memory.

Inspire: As I arrived on the scene, I told her she did the right thing – pulled off to the side of the road and called for help. I also encouraged her – she was going to learn an amazing life skill today.  

Teach: We read the instruction manual together and even pulled up a YouTube video that had us laughing hysterically.

Train: She watched me attempt to jack the car up and remarked, “It’s like physics in action.” Then she pitched in. To the beat of some good music, she loosened lug nuts and rolled a spare into place.

Coach: We both made a few mistakes and had to redo our work. We talked through how to do it better the second time, effectively coaching each other along the way. 

Brian took the same approach – inspire, teach, train and coach. 

1. He made sure his team knew he believed they could do the job.

2. He used his experience to teach them what he knew.

3. They trained together to develop their skills.

4. With him as their coach the team restored its confidence.

Seeing interruptions in a whole new light, Brian watched his team sharpen their skills, grow more effective and deliver a better client experience. 

The interruptions didn’t keep Brian’s team from his plan, it was the plan.

Boost Your Performance

One person’s interruption is another person’s opportunity. How you react to interruptions isn’t just a personal experience when you’re the leader. It’s a team experience. Your reaction to an unplanned event can either discourage your team or bring you together as a more cohesive effective unit. It’s your choice!

What’s Your Opinion?

How do you think about interruptions? Let me know at robin.pou@robinpou.com.

If you are going to be a leader, you might as well be a good one. Don’t let doubt count you out. Have a confident week!

Robin Pou, Chief Advisor and Strategist

We live to make bad leadership extinct so forward this newsletter to others who strive to be confident leaders. 

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What is “The Confident Leader”?

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, I began a video series called “Panic or Plan?” It was designed to equip leaders to navigate the doubt they experienced and to rise in the confidence they needed to lead during turbulent times. It took off. I then started this newsletter to equip leaders in the same fashion each week for the doubt that crashes across the bow of their leaderSHIP.