Do You Care to Lead?

Chapter 4Inspire

If you don't know where you are going, why you are going there, or how you are going to get there, it doesn't matter much which way you go because although you may end up somewhere, to your team it will always feel like nowhere.

A businessman was once on a long flight when the first warning that something was wrong came over the PA system. The pilot asked everyone to take their seats and fasten their seat belts.

After a while another announcement came over the PA. The pilot calmly told the passengers that they would not be offering beverage service due to unexpected turbulence on its way.

As the businessman looked around the aircraft, he noticed some of the passengers becoming a little worried. Later, the pilot announced that in addition to no beverage service, there would be no meal service due to the expected turbulence.

The plane came on the storm shortly after this last announcement. Thunder could be heard all around the aircraft and lightning could be seen lighting up the dark sky. Within a matter of minutes, the plane was being tossed around like a small toy with passengers becoming more and more fearfully alarmed by every big bump. One moment the plane was lifted and the next it was dropped as if it was crashing.

The businessman was also becoming somewhat anxious, and as he looked around the plane nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some ...