What do riding a bike and team leadership have in common?

Some people, when they’re on their bike, are only bike riders.

Some people, when they’re driving their cars, are only car drivers.

Some people, while walking, are only pedestrians.

But the people who do best in traffic, who are the most considerate and safest partners in traffic, are the ones who are bike riders, car drivers and pedestrians all at once in their minds, independently of whether they are walking, driving, or riding a bike.

Smart bike riders don’t forget what it’s like to drive a car and that there’s a risk of missing a biker in the blind spot… so they watch out for themselves when there’s such a risk, for example at a traffic light, where cars might turn and fail to see them in the mirror. Smart bike riders don’t forget how menacing it can feel when they walk in a pedestrian zone and a bike shows out of nowhere and cuts them off; so they don’t race through pedestrian zones like there’s no tomorrow.

Smart car drivers don’t forget what it’s like to ride a bike or cross a busy street as a pedestrian, and how vulnerable they become on a bicycle or on foot, without those protective metal panels around them. These drivers are considerate and watch out for all participants in traffic, not just cars, buses, or trucks… not just the bigger ones, which represent a higher risk to them.

And last but not least, smart pedestrians don’t forget what it’s like to ride a bike or drive a car while walking in busy, traffic-intense areas. They will understand how challenging it can be for a driver or biker to stop on time for a person that’s running across a street out of nowhere, especially when turning right. Mindful pedestrians make eye contact first to protect themselves and others from harm.

The same is true of team leaders:

They remember that they are not only team leaders. They are leaders, team members, and reports at the same time; and they weren’t always team leaders.

The best team leaders (cf bike riders) remember what it’s like to be a team member (cf pedestrians), and what it’s like to report to their managers or leadership team (cf cars or trucks) while leading a team.

In all these situations, they are still the same person and represent the same values. (This is also related to authenticity, by the way...)

And they put themselves in the shoes of the other roles as best as they can, so they gain greater understanding of what their challenges might be.

Just like in traffic, great team leadership in the workplace is characterized by an attitude of respect and consideration for others, independent of their roles or positions. Watching out for each other comes naturally to people-centered leaders.

Think of the leaders you have worked with:

What type of bike riders would they be?

Think about yourself:

What’s your attitude as a team leader? Are you a “considerate bike rider” leader?

Curious to read your comments! Email me.