Q: Passion or fear? Which is your fuel of choice?

Much is being made of fuel economy these days.  Average efficiency for American cars is about 22 MPG. In comparison, a drag racer only gets about 0.15 MPG.  But, that's different fuel with a different purpose.

Our personal fuel affects our efficiency too.  Many of us operate on the cusp of panic out of fear of failure, disappointment, or deadlines.  Well, the fuel of fear, like in the dragster, has its use but is best kept for things like dealing with an unforeseeable crisis or running from bears.  Fear is terribly inefficient.

The fuel of meaningfulness is much better for day-to-day energy.  Formulated to keep us cruising easily for long periods of time, the fuels of meaning, commitment and passion allow us and our teams to get so much more done with much less effort.  

Q: Are you trying to muscle through using only fuel?

Smooth travels - the secret is in the mix.

Gone are the days when average folks could work on their own cars.  Most older cars had very straightforward engines, including a carburetor.  The carburetor's whole purpose is to mix the fuel and oxygen.  If the mix is off, the car runs inefficiently at best and is dead in the road at worst.
 
More fuel isn't always the answer.  The same goes for our work.  More energy or fuel won't matter if our mix is off.  We all need oxygen too.  Maybe that's taking a breather or just being more balanced.  Whatever it is, just trying to increase our fuel of determination, creativity, or stamina won't cut it.  If your mix is wrong you'll just end up lagging along or dead in the road. 

One of the best ways to learn something is to teach it to someone else. This technique works because it forces us to consider a concept from the inside out.  

The best leaders are aware of the impact of their actions on others; that is, they are more self-aware. One effective way to grow our self-awareness is by turning ourselves inside out.    

Consider your reactions and behaviors in situations, especially high-stress ones. Now, imagine teaching those you lead to behave exactly as you do during those situations. If they did, would you be pleased or shocked?  In truth, our reactions during stressful situations teach those around us whether we intend to or not.  

Q: What is your comfort zone during crisis and what difference would stepping out of that comfort zone mean for your life and your leadership?

Last week we promoted the idea of self-protection as the core of our reactions to surprise or disappointment, and how these defense mechanisms are often key contributors to what holds us back from a full expression of our talents.
 
For some, self-protection includes actions as drastic as "shutting down" or becoming almost paralyzed in the midst of crisis.  But often these defense mechanisms are more subtle.  It might be pouring ourselves into more work because busyness feels productive. Others hide emotions like anger, frustration, and fear with sarcasm or a false expression of confidence.  
 
We all have our favorite go-to reactions that keep us from our full performance as leaders and as humans.

Q: What are the "allergens" that cause reactions in your work and your life?

Most of us have experienced an allergic reaction to something such as pollen, perfume, or peanuts. Our reaction might be itchy eyes or sneezing.  Or, you might have more serious trouble - difficulty breathing or something worse.  

All reactions to allergens are really defense mechanisms by your body.  Many times these don't make sense; they are just something your body does when it encounters a particular stimulus. But, not knowing that you're allergic to something can be frustrating at best and dangerous at worst.  

We react to stimuli in our work lives in much the same way.  Each of us has and uses defense mechanisms when confronted with challenges to our authority, someone letting us down or the receipt of troubling news.  As with physical allergies, it's important we recognize what causes these reactions and then, choose how to address the stimuli and our reactions to them in a healthy way.