Leadership Lessons For IT Solutions Providers From The Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area

By Rich Anderson, executive coach with HTG Peer Groups

In the still, cool early morning air, two bald eagles soar over the slate-gray lake encircled by a dense, dark green pine forest. A blue-gray heron drops to the safety of the middle of the lake. A few moments after the eagles disappear into the distant trees, the heron flies toward the lake’s edge for its morning fishing. Like a streak of lighting bolting from the trees, one of the eagles zeros in on the gangly heron. Instantly there is a winged struggle as the eagle hauls its large prey to the shore, wings flapping loudly as the two birds struggle. Feathers fly everywhere ... then it is still again. The eagles quietly feast on the now limp heron.

If you have never been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area in northeastern Minnesota and southwestern Ontario you are missing one of the most accessible wilderness areas in North America. Over the years I have been energized by encounters with black bear and moose, quieted by the loon’s haunting wail, and satiated by feasting on fresh walleye. This year, with my son-in-law and three of my darling grandchildren in tow (aged 11, 7, and 5 years) I saw several leadership lessons being lived out.   

Evie At The Helm — Proficiency Before Efficiency.  My seven-year-old granddaughter was given the helm (the rear seat) of her canoe where she had the responsibility of steering the canoe. Her path was rather serpentine. She was not efficient in getting from point A to point B. She lacked skill. She was not proficient. Rather than being frustrated with her, my son-in-law understood and patiently gave her the opportunity to build her skills. Do you understand, as a leader, that efficiency and people often don’t mix? Are you patiently training and allowing your team members to become proficient before you expect efficiency?

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