Endurance Leadership VI: What is in Your Tool Kit?

It is a warm spring day at the school. The bell has sounded and buses are loading. I stand my post at the bus area like a centurion. I gaze out over the parking lot, insuring that all the students are safely getting on the bus. This day was different than others, two of the buses were running late, which meant everyone was going to be in a holding pattern until they arrived. With kids, this is a sure fire recipe for disaster.

That is when the smell hit me. It was the aroma of old cabbage and chicken houses. It could peel paint. It was a smell that all parents and teachers pick out in an instant. It is the smell of a code “brown”. My instincts kicked in and I was looking for the child that was duck walking or looked like they were smuggling concrte in their back pockets. The smell had hit me like Pavlov’s dog! Instead of salivating, it had triggered the dry heaves.

My reaction only lasted a moment, because the smell intensified to knock out level as the child approached. There was no denying the issue at hand. Code “brown” was in effect. The child had been told by the bus driver to come back in the school for assistance. Between the heat and the odor, the bus had become unbearable for everyone on the bus. The problem was that the buses were already behind and the clock was ticking. It was time for action and that is where I got myself in deeper… well…I think you get it.

I reassured the young man that all would be fine. I took him inside and found a teacher to assist me in this daunting task. I yelled to the bus driver, “Don’t you dare leave.” This was his only way home and I knew if he didn’t catch the bus, we’d be waiting for hours and hours and hours. As I grabbed his backpack, I asked him if he had packed any extra clothes. He nodded yes. “I got this! No problem!”, I thought. Let me say it now. Never, ever, think this when in crisis or rushed.

As we walked down the hall, I unzipped the bag. I dove my hand into to the bag to grab those fresh clothes that would save everyone’s day. I pulled out that crucial item that I needed. There it was. In front of the assisting teacher and the students waiting to load the last buses, I had pulled a code “brown” out of the bag. It sat in my bare hand for all to see. Yep… just yep. My impending failure to keep my buses as close to on time as possible sat there in my palm. The whole situation stunk, literally.

My gut reaction was flail around, scream, and cut my hand off. I took a breath and quickly dropped the item back in the bag. I stayed silent and continued to walk toward the bathroom. The teacher who was helping was literally shaking, trying to contain the laughter. No others saw what had happened. So, I plopped the offending item back in the bag and got the boy fresh clothes. He cleaned up and changed. After all this, we were still able to get him on the bus and run buses on a near normal schedule.

When racing long distances, people always focus on the physical aspect as the sure fire way to win. The perception is that the most fit and fastest person is destined to be the victor. Most only consider the ability to cover the distance. While this is often the case, I have seen countless fit and fast athletes sitting on the side of the road with a bike problem waiting for someone to come pick them up. Their race is over. They are stuck in the middle of nowhere. The months of training are meaningless when you lack the tools to keep yourself in the race. Moments like this is why most carry a good toolkit and, more importantly, know how to use it

At any point, I can close my eyes and visualize what is in my tool kit. There is the spare tube, patches (just in case), a multi-tool (allen wrenches, screwdrivers, and chain-breaker), two tire spoons, duct tape, CO2 cartridge, and a pump. When problems occur while riding with my friends, I am always the one who has the needed tools. I have spent hours over the years thinking about what the most common problems may come up while out on the road. Based on this visualization, I have crammed all this into a spare water bottle or a tiny tool box for use while racing. The kit always changes. Sometimes I need to change my tools out depending on my needs.

It is great to have tools when you need them but it is equally important to know how to use them. I will practice common fixes throughout the year. I may change tires or break a chain to practice. I listen to podcasts about common issues and watch YouTube for hacks to fix these issues. I want to become James Bond or MacGyver when fixing a problem. Often times, my friends will laugh at the fixes I come up with. We have descended mountains at 45+ mph on a tire patched with a wrapper for a cliff bar. I have duct taped shoes and used cleat screws as fixes for a drive train.

When leading, you must always be in the process of building your toolkit. These tools may be made up of articles you read, experiences you have had, or lessons learned from fellow leaders. Always be reading and listening to others when you have a chance. Consult your friends and share stories. Your leadership toolkit is never completed and is always growing. The more you are aware of the process of building it up the better equipped it will be. The lessons can come from anywhere. I can’t count the number of times I have made a connection with a troubled student because I had paid attention to the newest show or video game my kids were playing. Who knows, you may be able to relate to an upset dad by knowing the difference between the NFL and the NHL.

I often sit and think about all the different scenarios that can come up at my school. I work through them in my mind. When I studied Jujitsu, my teacher taught me that a person’s best training partner was their own mind. Visualize potential attacks and appropriate responses. I also love to read books on educational court cases and predict what the judgment was and why. This sharpens my reactionary sword and hones my instincts. Just like practicing repairs, I am building muscle memory for when it is needed. The more natural a reaction is, the less time it takes to react.

In the case of the code “brown”, I could have never predicted the crazy scenario I was faced with that day. However, I had been through countless stressful situations and knew that overreaction would make the matters worse. I knew to make sure the bus didn’t leave before that kid got on the bus. I understood his family situation and the problem that we would face if he missed the bus. I knew what needed to be done to get the young man on the bus and had a backup plan with the school’s clean clothes. I also knew that even though I was grossed out when I discovered that hidden “present”, my reaction may draw attention to the boy and humiliate him. Finally, I knew to wash my hands (five times) THOROUGHLY! I learned always wear gloves when going into a student’s backpack in the future. To be clear, I didn’t think about all of these steps in depth as this happened. It was muscle memory and familiarity with my “tools” that made the solution work.

All leaders and educators should consider themselves learners. I guess I think about this a bit different than others. I am less of a student and more of a handyman. I study to fix problems and build up my mental toolkit. In a weird way, I love the thrill of being in crunch time or having a flat on the road. There is a sense of pride that comes with coming up with a creative way of accomplishing your goals. Yes, preparation is key to this process. You must also be able to get your hands dirty and use that tool when the time comes. I challenge you to build up your leadership tool kit every day and become the handyman in your school.

Next week: Endurance Leadership part VII- Build Your Tribe

Till then

Stay Sharp

Dr.S