Last week the emails were flying between colleagues like fall leaves caught by a gust of wind. The issues at hand were getting less and less clear.  What happened to our leadership strengths and our intention for good outcomes?  Through this incident, I learned valuable lessons in leadership, particularly among women.

Within our leadership team on this project we had a strong visionary and big picture person, someone who can draw out and appreciate strengths, a person who has endless good ideas and energy, and a discerning decision maker. When we seemed to be speaking past each other, and I admit I was a bit dismayed, I stepped back realizing that I did not have enough objectivity at that moment.  That pause for clarity provided just the space needed for the discerning decision maker to step in.

With ease the decision maker drew out the desired clarity for me and another team member.  The “clarity coach’s” approach was straightforward and neutral at the very time that I had gotten a bit too involved emotionally.   She was able to bring the needed balance of strengths and help us get back on track.

As I acknowledged her for the insight and clarity that she brought, she reminded me that my strengths were ones that really helped balance hers. We both beamed as we saw how when you are open, there can even be silver linings to snafus!

Our Learnings:

1)      When there is a breakdown with a team of leaders, particularly women, look for their strengths.

2)      Are each member’s strengths working for the team’s desired outcome at the moment?

3)      If not, how might each person’s strengths be balanced out by another?

4)      When called for, am I willing to step back and trust the wisdom of the whole and know that just the right team member will catch the ball and keep the game moving forward?