Health

Scripted ice breakers are usually lame, but a fun one invites participants to share something that others may not know about them. There are many ways to approach such a prompt, but a response I once threw in the mix was my unassuming indulgence in foot massages at airports.

After traveling, there’s something bougie about having your tired feet rubbed while endless strangers pass by. Along with mental relation in a very public environment, tightness can be melted after a conference, team meetup, golfcation, or whenever you had fun on your feet.

Transitions came to mind when a recent airport masseuse was whisking my feet into mashed potatoes. A tension arrived as the artisan prepared to switch from one foot to the next. There was an undercurrent of disappointment in that one foot’s rub was coming to an end, yet this feeling disappeared when the next foot received its first touch of attention.

This tiny transition accentuates the kaleidoscopic variety of shifting twists we experience in endless ways. Unconscious, planned, and unplanned changes happen all around us, yet some transitions bring added avoirdupois or take more time than expected.

The route toward a smooth transition is different for every situation, but one tactic to help navigate any transition is to acknowledge the past, then use the present to concentrate energy toward what’s next.

This seems obvious, but our ego often tries to pull us back to what we may be leaving behind. For example, a sense of loss can be felt when leaving a team or as one steps out of an active leadership role. When something has become part of our identity, it’s no surprise that transition brings tension. Will you still be respected after you’re gone?

When leaders let others lead and depart with a sense of abundance, it takes time, but appreciation will last.

Brewed From Within
#52 📖 Leadership