FINALLY!!  For this first time this year... yes, it's been a busy year - I finally got on my trusty steed and rode for a little over 100 miles on Sunday.  As we were traversing through the gorgeous rolling hills of Wisconsin on a beautifully sunny Sunday, I noticed the leadership lessons in the "pack" as we rode.  When riding in a group, much like when working toward company goals, you have a lead bike (which most of us are capable of being) and you follow the individual that decided to "step up" for the next leg of the trip.

From the hand signals (communication), to the speed (program flow) and route taken (organizational direction) - all are constantly communicated during the trip to ensure the safe arrival of everyone.  I couldn't help but think about how similar this is to well run organizations!  As I said in the Energetic Women's newsletter a few months back, it's not about the destination, it IS about the journey.  When you're riding a Harely with a group - it IS about the journey... with your friends (or colleagues).  Each brings a distinctive measure and their own personality to the trip - the type of bike, the diversity of the group (male, female, ethnic, religious) and all have a similar goal - arriving to our destination without incident so we can enjoy each other's company and craft the next leg of our trip.

The one component that makes the difference in our trips is TRUST.  If we have new riders, we put them right behind the leaders, so they can follow at a good pace, the leaders won't exceed the "newbies" capabilities and those more experienced are riding behind them in case anything happens for support.  For those of us familiar with each other, we know our fellow riders, their experience and trust their abilities to keep us all safe as we journey together.

Being on my motorcycle is like going to church for me.  It's where I have time to ponder work, life and the world in general.  As a good friend shared with me once, a quote from the book "Tea and Empathy with Dan Goleman" (Strategy + Business, Lawrence M. Fisher):

"The executives who make the best decisions," Goleman says, "are the ones who spend time by themselves reflecting, though that may be the time they spend riding their Harleys.  Meditation helps one get into a mode of mind where the background information processing, which is the wisest part of the mind, can rise to the surface, and get you the 'aha' of decisions you've been pondering."

Like we say - "If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand".  Life and leadership lessons are available on a Harley and hopefully in your companies journey too.  Where do your leadership lessons come from and how are they communicated?  Let me know.

Thanks!!