This morning I woke up, and immediately felt a massive change in temperature from hot the day before to suddenly cold. As I drove to work, I crossed a lake and there was a massive fog covering the lake to where I could not at all. My stress increased and my certainty decreased because I couldn't see what was coming ahead on my path. In short, my progress was immediately slowed down. I started thinking to myself.
Does fog ever show up in our work?
What Causes Fog?
Fog is created when there is a massive change in temperature or weather conditions from what the environment was previously experiencing. The unexpected change in conditions creates fog from what was to what is. When you take a hot shower, what do you notice on the mirror? The result of a change in temperature is always fog on the mirror.
What is the Fog in our Work?
We encounter fog in our work when we or someone around us make massive change from the organization's or classroom's current condition. Immediately, there is a fog or lack of clarity, lack of predictability, lack of certainty, and ultimately a lack of comfort. In short people can’t see the world around them, because there has been a massive change in the conditions within their work.
How does Fog affect People?
When we are driving in the fog, we can’t see very far in front of us, and thus, we are consumed with concern over what dangers or obstacles are in our path that we cannot see due to the fog. The same is no different in the fog of work. When massive change creates fog for others, followers become uneasy, distressed, or even scared. Great leaders and teachers recognize when they create fog for others, and more importantly they understand that followers will not be able to go as fast with the change, because the fog is blinding their vision and their certainty about their circumstances.
How do we Confront the Fog?
The great thing about fog is that it eventually lifts or evaporates. The one thing that will cause the fog to lift is the sunlight. The sunlight in leadership consists of a couple of essential components. First, great leaders recognize that it takes time for the fog to lift, and secondly, they understand that clear and comforting communication relaxes people. It gives people permission to be patient while the fog slowly disappears from uncertainty to clarity.
Let's Lift the Fog
The point of this message is simple. In an effort to improve outcomes for students, change always creates fog for followers. When it does, great leaders recognize it, and then put processes in place to allow people to comfortably slow down in the fog, while time and frequent communication work together to create clarity and purpose so that the fog will lift.
As a leader of kids or adults, you always have two choices.
Continue to forge ahead in the fog and run the risk of having a massive wreck, causing huge setbacks for your organization, or
Slow down, give people time, and be patient as the organization drives through the fog until it lifts.
The choice is always yours, but remember, so are the consequences. Lead others patiently and confidently through the fog of change, and watch the smiles grow as the sun lifts the fog.
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