“The President will travel to Texas next week only if it does not distract from the work being done.”
Pretty simple and self-evident statement that came out of the White House over the weekend, right? Why should it even be news? In most instances it really shouldn’t be, it should be common sense. But we remain in still a bit of an uncommon time when the news is driven by those making the most noise, not those who are looking left and right, and using a sometimes-undervalued skill in storytelling…the ability to read the room.
Thinking before speaking, or understanding where in a narrative you, or those in your senior leadership, may fit is easy to forget in a time when everyone has the chance to lean forward and lead a discussion. People are shouting about an idea or an issue, or it is trending on any social channel, and many choose to jump right in and offer up opinions. Get involved, say something, anything, have your voice heard!
Not always.
Sometimes the best statements, and the best moves, are the ones not made. The ones that take what my friend Q. Williams calls “Beautiful listening.” The ability to pause, to see what is going on, to see if I am really contributing to a narrative or am I just speaking because I can…and then acting accordingly.
In this case, The White House chose a key path that sent a message to those on the ground. We see what’s going on, we are watching you and can help from afar…but if we hinder or distract from the work going on, the photo op is not needed at this time.
It is much different from what we see more and more of. Louder voices running into the fray, sometimes getting in the way, being seen just to be seen, and frankly mucking things up. It may be a good ROE…Return On Ego…to be in that narrative, but for those with a longer term play, the ROI…in this case the Return On Investment…of time and attention and dedication, is better served by sitting one out.
Now that’s not to say that all the time just showing up to show support for anyone in leadership is not warranted. In some cases it sends a reassuring message, or a message of safety. It is not a distraction from the task at hand. It is sometimes a difficult line to touch, the line of leadership between doing what is correct and just and needed and doing for the sake of doing. It is also something which is easy to blur when all around are watching and shouting and acting.
How does one know where to stand? Do what leaders do. Listen. Build consensus. Weigh options. Pause. Then make the move. It’s easier to run sometimes than walk, but many times the distraction for those doing the work is not worth the photo.
Only if it does not distract…well chose words, especially in a crisis.
