Are you being risky or reckless?

When I was in Alaska to work with the Public Health Nurses I jumped off a mountain.

It was the afternoon before my workshop and I had many hours of daylight to enjoy (sunset wouldn’t occur until 9:30 pm).

A sign advertising paragliding caught my eye. Thirty minutes later, I was in a tandem harness and Brian, my instructor was right behind me.

“Run as hard as you can – over that cliff. Go!!”

Off I galloped with all my might towards the cliff edge. Step by step the abyss came closer.

“Run harder!!”

Ten steps from the edge the wind caught and we were lifted up, up, up into the sky. What an amazing view. What a glorious ride!!

Leadership doesn’t take you down safe and familiar paths.
It takes you into the unknown. It feels more like running full bore towards the edge of a cliff than talking a stroll in the neighborhood park.

There’s no way around it – exercising leadership feels risky.
It’s about making tough choices and taking decisive action – when the stakes are high and the outcome is uncertain.

The situations can vary:

•    Raising an unpopular topic in a meeting
•    Committing to a new (untested) strategic direction
•    Confronting a peer or boss
•    Admitting your own mistakes
•    Saying no to a lucrative opportunity – in order to follow your passion

The “size” of the situation doesn’t determine how intensely you feel the risk.
It can be just as scary to deliver unwelcome feedback to a colleague as to invest $5 million in a new venture.

In every case, you’re heading towards a cliff – where the outcome is uncertain.
You could just keep quiet – instead of raising the difficult conversation. You could set up a “task force” and delay making a tough decision. You could ignore your gut (and heart) and go for the lucrative offer.

Why would you choose uncertainty and risk over the safety of solid ground?
You could stay put.

But, leadership calls you in another direction. Towards the cliff.

Leadership calls you to lean into the discomfort of risk in order to serve something that more important than narrow self-interest.

It could be:
•    The mission of your organization
•    A project that matters deeply
•    A person or group you care about
•    Your own development.

Again, the “size” of that which you serve is not the measure of its value.

The key factor is simply that, in exercising leadership, you willingly lean into the discomfort of risk, in order to serve what matters most deeply to you.

So, what’s the difference between risk and recklessness?
Reckless leaders are focused on themselves.
When the action is taken to prove that I am right, smart, strong, fearless, better, valuable, a winner not a loser etc.
It is not risky. It’s reckless.

Reckless actions about defending and shoring up a self-image or self-interest.

That’s what makes it reckless.

When leaders act recklessly – they are motivated not by service but by self-interest.
And they are blinded to the consequences of their actions. They are willing to sacrifice others – in order to preserve themselves.

Reckless leaders serve self-interest and self-image first. Mission, purpose, people, take a back seat.

They put the organization at risk to preserve their self-image. They often act with a sense of bravado and invincibility. The results of such choices are almost always disastrous.

This is quite different from the risk-taking that authentic leadership requires.
The risk is taken in full awareness of the potential consequences. There is an awareness of the uncertainty and the possible consequences. But, the way forward is also clear. Action is called for. Action motivated by the urge to serve what matter most.
There is no bravado in making this choice.

There is a vulnerable feeling in all authentic leadership challenges.
But, vulnerability is not weakness. It is a form of strength. Because, vulnerability opens you up to receive support from those around you and the deep resources that lie within you.

So, the next time you find yourself running towards a cliff, pause.
Take a moment to reflect on what is impelling you forward.

•    Are you taking a leadership risk or acting from a more reckless motivation?
•    Are you defending yourself, your self-image, your self-interest?
•    Or are you serving something bigger – which will likely include your own growth?
•    Are you more aware of bravado or vulnerability?

And if you determine that you are on the risky path of leadership – then run hard and run strong for the cliff. Because, in a few steps the wind will catch in your sail and you will be treated to an amazing view and a glorious ride.