What does Denver International Airport have to do with leadership?
I fly into Denver once a month.
I have not been to every airport in the US but of the ones I have been to, Denver is the worst. They have had construction going on for the two and a half years I have been flying there.
This past week I arrived at the airport at 5:15 AM. I have found the best time to fly out of DIA (Denver International Airport) is early morning.
I get dropped off, walk in, and sure enough the TSA Pre-check area has moved yet again. (Little flex with the TSA Pre-Check reference:).
So, I start my journey of figuring out where the TSA Pre-check is at this month.
I started in the direction it used to be, but quickly realized it (along with a whole wall) had been moved. So I scan around looking for a sign.
Nothing.
I asked an airport employee and he says, "Go around this baggage claim area and then you should see it."
So, I do as he says.
There is one problem.
When I get around the baggage area, I don't see the TSA Pre-check area...just a hallway with a plastic bag tarp on the one wall.
And yet again, I see no signs.
As you can imagine, I am now getting frustrated. So I decided to keep going. As I am walking to who knows where, I see another airport employee.
Again, I ask where the TSA Precheck is. Semi rudely he replies, "Go around this corner and you'll see it."
I've heard this before.
I tell him thanks and head out, following his directions.
Low and behold...I walk around the corner and...nothing. Now I am super frustrated.
I have almost walked in a circle, and I have not seen one sign pointing to TSA Precheck.
The employees have given me super vague directions...which leads to another area that is not the TSA Precheck.
So, I decided instead of turning left I was going to hang a right. I walk down a wide hallway of sorts and bingo...I see a standing sign for TSA Precheck.
Why do I tell this story?
When leaders lack clarity
I tell it because I had a trivial, short experience in which those who should be leading me, lacked clarity. Vague directions and zero signage (except the one sign, which happened to be five feet from the TSA Pre-check area).
My level of trust in DIA is as low as it can get. My experience was not good.
This is how it plays out in organizations.
When leaders lack clarity themselves and can't provide clarity for their people, trust will be fractured, influence lost, and frustration will significantly rise.
As a leader, communicate...no better yet, over-communicate where you are going and how you are going to get there.
This includes the 10,000 ft view of bringing clarity to the standards and expectations but also the in-the-weeds clarity with things like the week's schedule and what needs to be the focus or what the drill is, how we want it done, and why it is important.
Clarity needs to be a cloud and a dirt thing (big picture and in the weeds).
And it needs to be an all-the-time thing.
People get frustrated and eventually stop following those who do not provide consistent clarity.
People follow leaders when the leader brings clarity!
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One of my weekly disciplines is scouring the internet for articles/tweets I can learn from and/or use with those I work with. Below are two that I hope help encourage and equip you.
Article 1- Great reminder for coaches/leaders
Article 2- What to look for in recruits
Podcast: Josh Brooks, Georgia AD. Total stud!
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