Battle-Proven Leadership

“You can’t lead with a 1,000-mile screwdriver,” is a lesson I learned through failure. I took over as the leader of a new-to-me team. Immediately after, I went on long-term military duty. I had a person serving in the number two role, but I didn’t know him. Also, I didn’t know the members of my leadership team. I knew the culture I wanted to build, and the administrative foundation I believed was necessary. So, while I was a thousand miles away I attempted to drive that culture.

It was disastrous. It was disastrous because rules without relationship breed rebellion. I didn’t have the time or brain space to articulate my “why,” and there was only so much credit you could ask for because of your position. My team was still forming and norming, and I rushed everyone into the storming phase. I was asking them to choose between following my legal/moral/ethical, but new-to-them demands, which quickly devolved into “irrational demands.”

The leader who shared the opening quote was encouraging me to think through the inability to drive fine details from miles away. He was reminding me that I needed to trust my team. I discovered that nothing was lost in waiting to connect with my teammates.

This time around, in joining the Indiana team, I’ve learned my lesson. I asked Ashleigh Presnar to be my Chief of Staff, and she uprooted her life to move to Indiana and serve Hoosiers alongside me. As I’ve been on military orders in DC, she has led our team in Indianapolis. Her decisions have been sound, and she’s been faithful to highlight the decisions that only I can make.

She’s a trusted teammate and I’m thankful she’s on our team. Shout out to AP; thanks for leading in my stead!