The Leadership We Don’t Always See
This week, I was onsite with one of our wonderful clients.
Sitting at the airport, waiting to fly home and listening to Bob Marley on the overhead speaker, I found myself thinking not only about what happened in the room this week, but also what happened behind the scenes. . .
The lunch —Mexican on day one, and pizza and salad on day two —that appeared promptly at 11:45 each day, not because of magic, but because the team's executive assistant ordered it, intercepted the order when it arrived, assembled the folding tables, set up the lunch buffet, and made sure there was enough not only for the leaders in the program, but for everyone in the office.
The new coffee creamers —with multiple flavors to align with multiple people's preferences —that appeared in the fridge, because the CEO personally purchased them and put them there.
The table at the restaurant that was set up and ready to go, due to a series of phone calls between the executive assistant and the host at the restaurant.
Often, whatever is happening on the stage is supported by a whole crew working behind the scenes. In very literal terms, this often happens in the form of a cleaning crew arriving when the sun starts to set, cleaning the office from top to bottom before the team arrives again in the morning.
It makes me consider: what are some of the silent but impactful acts of leadership that we might benefit from but not always notice?
The kind of leadership that creates the conditions for others to shine?
And, what could it look like to pause and acknowledge these acts of care that are happening behind the scenes, or before the curtains open?
Reflections
What is one act of “behind the scenes leadership” that I've witnessed recently?
And, what could it look like to express appreciation to the people involved?
How might I do an act of “behind the scenes” leadership that might make someone else's work or life or daily rhythms easier?
