Look For The Blue Dinosaur

Will and I were discussing leadership strategies when I asked him the following question…

…”What lessons are you working to instill in your son currently?”

You should know that Will’s son is two years old.

Will did not hesitate when he answered, “Patience and not to give up on something when it becomes a challenge.”

Will went on to say that at times his son, who is very bright and athletic will take on new challenges.

However, when immediate success is not found, his son has a tendency to want to quit rather than meet the challenge.

And that recently his son became frustrated when putting together a puzzle and was going to walk away.

Keep in mind he is two years old.

A little backstory.

Will is a successful leader in one of the largest companies in the world.  He leads people.  He develops leaders and he is an example of meeting the challenge, not walking away from an obstacle which might be temporarily keeping him and his team from success.

Now sensing that there was a hidden leadership nugget somewhere in all of this, I asked, “So, what do you do, when you son wants to walk away?”

Will said something that has stuck with me ever since and that I use now in coaching leaders myself.

He said, “I tell him, son, look for the blue dinosaur.  It’s the piece you are missing.”

“Will, do you realize what you just said?  That is the very principle you can use with your team when they are stuck.  You can tell them that story.”

Whether leading children or leading well educated, articulate adults, the leadership strategy is the same.

We as adults have to recognize the challenge, acknowledge it and work toward a resolution and never give up until we achieve success.

It’s so simple even a child can understand it, which is the best leadership strategy.

We just have to look for the blue dinosaur.