One step at a time

Last week I cycled the 307 miles from London to Paris over 4 days. There was plenty of thinking time and I spent quite some time making connections between leadership and our rather long bike ride.

In the Common Purpose programme, we have been thinking a lot about passion and courage.  There is no doubt that passion is a catalyst for change but while it may be the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning, it may not be the thing that keeps you going when it gets tough. While I was 100% passionate about getting to Paris with the rest of the group, there were a number of hills that initially just seemed too long or steep to make. However (with the exception of one), I kept going up every hill.

I found that one strategy that really worked for me was working out whether I could make the next metre. Once I had made metre, I worked out if I could make the next and so on.  Before long, the end didn't seem quite so far.

So often I try to work out whether I can change the world and it just seems to big. In reality, all I really need to do is take the next step towards that change. If I can do that, I am moving in the right direction. It's amazing how quickly we make progress just by taking small but significant steps in the right direction.

Arriving in Paris was quite indescribable. The feeling of achievement was absolutley huge and as we cycled down the Champs-Elysees together all the pain, muscle aches and saddle sore were completely forgotten.

The parallels with my own leadership seem obvious but it is interesting to reflect on what mental or emotional muscles I need to flex, what structural barriers do I need to push through to achieve the goals I am aiming for?  But then how will it feel to achieve what I really feel passionate about.

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