#22 – Look left, look right, look ahead

“That’s all well and good, but what can I do?”

At 19, Melanie Perkins started Canva from her mother’s loungeroom – it’s now worth billions. Luke Shaw scored a goal in the final of Euro 2020 with broken ribs. Angela Merkel has led Germany since 2005 through a financial crisis, refugee crisis and health crisis.

It can seem overwhelming reading about these great leaders when we’re just trying to get through our school days or 9-5 jobs.

How can we compare? Where can we start?

Look left, look right..

There’s always someone there. At the desk next to you, the seat next to you, the name next to yours on the Zoom call. At work, at home, on the bus or on the field.

There is always someone to your right and someone to your left. Lend them a hand. Guide them, pick them up when they’re down and create a trusting relationship. You’ll quickly learn more about each other and share any difficulties – the road is unsafe, you need something to better perform at your job, or there’s not enough chicken salt on the chips.

Before you know it you can motivate each other, help each other perform and find better versions of yourselves along the way as your relationship grows.

…and look ahead

The other aspect of leadership is the ability to think ahead. If you can look at the people next to you in whichever context and have a vision to better that scenario long-term, you’re at the start of something great.

Envision your ideal scenario and take any action towards it so the people after you don’t have the same difficulties you did.

Melanie Perkins saw how hard design platforms were for the people around her, so she started Canva with a vision of making design accessible to all.

Luke Shaw looked after his teammates on and off the pitch, with a vision to lead England to footballing glory.

Angela Merkel grew up in East Germany. When the Berlin Wall fell, she joined a political party which aligned with her vision and what she saw would be best for the people around her.

So talk to your boss, join that organisation, call Bunnings and book in a sausage sizzle.

Because that’s how any leader begins. It’s looking after the people around you, envisioning a better future and taking that step.

Look left. Look right. Look ahead. Look after each other. That’s what you can do.

Next week: …I’ll do it later