Tandem Leadership
Tandem Leadership - It’s leadership in partnership.
Let me ask you a few questions…. Have you ever done anything in tandem?!
What about a bike?
Have you ever ridden a tandem bike?
Or what about a kayak?
Have you ever been in a tandem kayak?
What about this...parasailing?
Have you ever been lifted in a tandem parachute?
If you’ve answered no to all of the question above, then please make it an adventure and do one or all of those amazing activities. And if you need a partner, PICK ME!
I will gladly pay my way to join the fun. The concept is really simple behind doing things in tandem. It is a task you can do alone, but when you sync with another that has the same ability and coordination the load somehow feels lighter.
Likewise in leadership, when you enter a new position - whether on a board or within an organization - have someone with similar ability or coordination that you can glean from. Now, when I mention the words ability or coordination I am describing them with these lens of understanding...
Ability:
Similar or same skill set
Similar or same technical space
Similar or same creative wave
It’s the area in life you desire to form mastery
Coordination:
Similar or same background
Similar or same common ground
Similar or same through race, gender, sport, etc.
It’s identifying a commonality or intersection that helps to foster deeper connection
So when you sync ability and coordination together, you get tandem leadership.
It will lead to you going further.
It will lead to you being efficient.
It will lead to you seeing results.
So as you are in transition within our organization and/or entering into a new role, think about incorporating tandem leadership into your change management or people management plan. I promise you won’t regret it!
Next month I will describe the practices of tandem leadership. Stay tuned!
