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The Icarus Effect -
Boldness in the Middle
In the Greek myth, Icarus was the son of the master craftsman Daedalus, the inventor of the Labyrinth. Icarus along with his father attempted to escape from Crete by constructing wings from feathers and wax.
Daedalus warns Icarus of two extremes, one of complacency and the other hubris. Daedalus coached Icarus not too fly too low nor too high, so the ocean's dampness would not clog his wings or the sun's heat melt the wax. Icarus defiantly rejected the coaching, flying too close to the sun. The sun's hot rays melted the wax and Icarus tumbled into the sea where he drowned.
Tragedy could have been avoided. Icarus was told to stay in the middle. Stay above the sea and below the sun. Instead Icarus denied the power of staying in the middle.
So what does this have to do with your leadership and career? The answer is "Everything". There are forces that push and pull all the time for us to live in the extremes. Instead, stay in the middle. Be bold; fly, but stay in the middle between complacency and hubris.
Below are 5 Principles for Boldness In the Middle
- Stay accessible and available. - Hiding out in one's office or not providing others information about what is important is not the safety of complacency. Instead be "present" and "engaged."
- Seek comfort when afflicted. -This is a challenging principle. Learn when to push yourself out of comfort and when to seek comfort when pushing your limits too far.
- "Be quick, but not in a hurry." (John Wooden) - Both physically and intellectually be quick, responsive, and reflective. But don't be in a hurry to give your solution when you have not first heard the possible solution from others.
- Remember the "fulcrum in the middle," - We all have ups and downs. Acknowledge that with each push on one side of a lever the opposite is being pulled. Think about your emotions and the fulcrum as your purpose to not let your emotions be too compressed or overly expressed.
- Stay "even keeled" - The keel is what keeps a sailboat upright and holds the forces so the boat does not turn over. What is your "keel?" Your values are like your keel. Keep to your values no matter what.
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"Linchpin - Are You Indispensable?"
By Seth Godin
According to the author, we all have a choice. We can choose to live life day after day, year after year going through the motions and doing work that is dull and uninspiring. The other choice is to live a life as a "linchpin" - a path of becoming invaluable to your company and your career. The choice is yours.
In order to make the choice, Godin offers insights for reflection:
- Job Security no longer exists. - The "cradle to grave" contract is no longer valid. Business has been disrupted by technology, insecure workers victimized by a global economy, downsizing, and layoffs.
- You can embrace hopelessness or opportunity. - You can deny or defend your fate of the hopelessness of numbing repetitive tasks or you can courageously find innovative opportunities.
- Cast off mediocrity by making the tough choice of perform or perish, since there are forces that push against creativity, excellence, and artistry. Instead stay strong and do something that is creative.
- Become a linchpin. - Be unique, inventive and dynamic. Keep a winning attitude no matter what.
- Tune out your "lizard brain"- which is the "fight or flight" mechanism. Be careful and don't take failure personally. Gain strength from your setbacks.
- Beware of comfort-staying. - Staying comfortable is a tendency we all have. Being comfortable makes us feel safe where we don't need to fear the unknown. Instead, take risks by breaking old patterns. Be committed to self-discipline, since it is the supreme key to productivity.
- Giving is better than taking. - Many successful people never made money their goal; it flowed in because their priority was to give. Defend against the sad reality that altruism is not always admired. As a linchpin, donate what you can, even your energy.
The choice is between the mundane and inspirational. Godin admonishes that mediocrity is safe since change is intimidating. Going against the grain requires self-discipline and courage. But looking beyond the present horizon can improve the world, strengthen your relationships, and truly make your life a meaningful journey.
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There is research that strongly suggests that the greater our belief that we can accomplish an important goal, the greater the probability we can actually do it. In one study (Thomas MacKenzie, Rocio Pereira, and Philip Mehler, "Smoking Abstinence After Hospitalization: Predictors of Success," 39 (2004) found that subjects who rated themselves even moderately confident that they could quit smoking were ten times more likely to succeed than subjects who didn't.
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- If you are only using interviews to hire talent, you have a 14% chance of hiring the right person. You then have an 86% chance of hiring the wrong person.
- Complacency is dangerous to one's career. It shows a lack of passion and verve to make a meaningful contribution to any endeavor. Nothing happens until action is taken.
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COACH'S NOTE
Being bold in the middle takes discipline, forethought and, especially, seeking and taking wise advice. Remember, being too comfortable or being arrogant only lead to missed opportunities and the high probability of derailing. I challenge you to begin thinking of not staying "too close to the dampness of the ocean nor too close to the sun." Be bold in the middle.
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Solving People and Management Issues
The Heller Group focuses on coaching for senior level executives. We facilitate change within an organization that results in more effective leadership, increased productivity, innovative thinking, and improved employee morale and retention.
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Dr. Bruce Heller
Dr. Bruce Heller, founder of The Heller Group, Inc., has over 20 years experience consulting with managers and executives on executive education, leadership development, and organizational.
He is an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School.
Dr. Heller is a consulting psychologist and member of the American Psychological Association Consulting Psychology Division. Dr. Heller holds a Ph.D. and Masters Degree in Education from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Heller is the author of The Prodigal Executive-How to Coach Executives Too Painful to Keep, Too Valuable to Fire.
Read the book.
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