The sun rose over the river and I stood there thinking about how I would manage the next thirty minutes. There was a chill in the air and word had gotten around about the water temperature. The water was 54 degrees. That is cold for a swimmer and we had a little under a mile to swim that day. Everyone knew this was going to suck but it is what each of us had signed up to do. Maybe we should have signed up for competitive eating instead.
The horn sounds and I’m in the water. I had been right on the money, this was awful. The water felt like needles in my face. My muscles began to tense. I couldn’t physically put my face in the water anymore. I began to hyperventilate and freak out. I had a moment where I thought I was going to drown. Then I remembered my old Boy Scout Lifeguard training. Most people who are in distress can help themselves if they calm down, think, and act accordingly.
I flipped on my back to float for a minute. This was only slightly better but it gave me a minute to let my body acclimate to the water. I also told myself that I would get to the next buoy and make a decision at that point if I was going to continue. At least I could hold on if I had too. Then a volunteer paddled up and nudged me with his oar. “Hey, you alright?”, he asked. I gave him the thumbs up and he left me to go pull others out of the water. I turned over and began to move towards the buoy, then the next one, and so on. I found the longer I was in the water, and once I found my place in the river’s current, the more comfortable I was.
Jumping into the water with both feet is a scary feeling. I have stood on the beach, edge of the dock, and countless boat ramps thinking about the task ahead of me. Rivers, lakes, and oceans have been the beginning of many a long day. In triathlon, this is the first event of three. The distance to cover may vary from a half mile to 2.4 miles. No matter the distance, the very real fear remains the same.
Open water swimming is no joke. The swim normally starts with you standing shoulder to shoulder with hundreds, if not thousands, of your newest friends. When you are in the water, the race becomes a bit of a wrestling match. Bodies are everywhere. Feet and elbows are flying like the UFC. Everyone in this washing machine is trying to find his spot in this race. This is the moment that most fear the most. This is where you are really out there on your own and being hit from all sides. These first few moments are when people raise their hand and wave over a kayak or paddleboard. These racers gave up the race they have trained for in the first few minutes. Their day is done.
The reality is that the most comfortable place to be is the sideline, shoreline, or anywhere familiar. The reality is that you will never get anywhere if you don’t choose to get uncomfortable. In schools, it may mean grabbing every one by the hand and leading them into the waters of change. Some you may have to shove in and some will always sit out.
When facing school changes you could take the easy and comfortable route. You can stand on the sore and watch the water flow on, too afraid to jump in. The changes your school will need and the problems that you face are just like those unknown waters.
Study the water and it’s flow
Every body of water has a current. It may be subtle but it is there. The flow of water can help push you towards your goal or can make your journey struggle. IF you take the time to look at the water, study the current, and understand the flow, then you can use the current to your advantage. There is a nuance to this but it come with time.
Each school has a current. It is the interactions between staff. The expectations that have been set. The level of trust you have with your staff. Your school culture is the current. Think about navigating change in your school using your culture is like using the flow of a river. You can use it to your benefit or fight upstream. Sometimes you don’t have a choice and you have to fight against the current of your school. If that is the case, know that it will take more effort and time to reach your goal. You can still use your knowledge to navigate the waters of change and find the path of least resistance.
Look for those buoys
When you are in neck deep, things get scary in a hurry. Every bump or wave adds to the anxiety inside. If you don’t learn to manage it, you may be looking for someone to pull you out or drown. I always look for the next buoy ahead. It breaks the task up into manageable chunks and keep me on the quickest path. This means I am always looking at that next buoy and focus on it only.
Every leader has had that feeling of impending of doom from time to time. Some days all we can do is continue to fight for survival. Though you may not realize it at the time, you are trained for this. Granted, there was no class on how to deal with half the things you’ll face. You don’t need all the answers because you are a leader. You understand how leadership works and the nuances of how to get to where you need to be. You may have to go slower than others but you have all you need within yourself.
Leaders are always faced with uncharted waters. We that lead are the ones that are willing to jump in with both feet and get after it. You must respect the flow of your school and learn to use it. It is powerful. You must embrace the water and become one with its flow. Bruce Lee explains:
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.
Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
Till next time…
Stay Sharp
Dr.S
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