For someone who loves to be in charge of things, making purposeful choices and taking ownership of execution and delivery, it isn’t easy taking the back seat in life and on the river being the bow paddler. With a canoe, you want to be a back seat driver. You have more leverage in the stern than in bow. But because my husband has a few pounds on me, and when traveling forward the canoe usually performs best if the bow (front) is slightly lighter, I found myself canoeing down the Russian River taking the front (back) seat.
There’s a reason the canoe is called “a divorce boat.” Blame is assigned and tempers flare at the simplest of maneuvers. Just as the meeting of the moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the dry air from Canada creates the perfect conditions for a tornado, having one person attempt to steer the canoe from the bow (front) while the other tries to steer from the stern, sets the stage for the perfect storm. Canoes flip and turn upside down very easily, even in calm lakes, if rowers do not paddle synchronously. It’s sync or sink.
I may have started the trip down the river a bit grouchy about being second mate, but I quickly realized that while you can’t steer a canoe from the bow, you get a better view of any imminent dangers. I was in charge of setting the pace and looking for obstacles. It took a while for me to stop being so strong headed and follow the instructions of “paddle two left” or “three little ones right.” But we got our groove down with me scouting out hidden rocks and logs in the water and calling them out so my husband could steer us around them as I powered us through. The tandem canoe tested our communication skills. While I led from the bow, I had to trust my husband to steer from the stern. We worked well together as a team, two synchronized rowing machines running with equal power, keeping out of trouble and staying dry. Communication and cooperation are vital to keep the canoe going straight. Sharing leadership got us to the finish line rowing in harmony and blissful happiness. We didn’t flip, and we made it home without any fighting (alright maybe a bit of arguing.)
And this is a valuable lesson in business when trying to adapt to the rapid changes. Paddling in different directions will get you spinning round and round in circles going nowhere. To get team members rowing in the same direction:
Lead from the front charting new territory and identifying obstacles ahead of time while making sure you get the power from behind to stay clear of trouble.
Engage in behaviors appropriate to the new course. Kayaking strokes won’t get you far on a canoe.
Clearly define team members’ roles and responsibilities and the value each person brings to the table.
Communicate the new strategy but be sure to stay connected and communicate on the fly with any new information along the way.
Don’t blame others when things go wrong. You are a team. If something has not gone right, everyone has failed. Learn from it and keep rowing forward.
Row in someone else’s water shoes. Even if you have a preferred position, swap ends and get a feel for life at the other end of the boat and the challenges others have to deal with.
Show appreciation. I proved to be good at the powering whereas my husband is brilliant at steering. I am really impressed that he could so smoothly steer us between a fallen tree and submerged log.
Be positive. A few times we came to narrow and shallow areas. Rocks seemed to emerge threatening to damage the canoe. You will eventually hit a log or get stuck on a rock. Positive attitude will help you move forward faster and more constructively than if you become stuck on the rock in a negative attitude.
Different situations require different leadership styles at different times; sometimes we are in the stern, the bow, or in the middle providing the power to move forward. There are opportunities to lead in every role we take.
Look out for others. On the river, people with a wide range of paddling experience come together. Keep an eye out for those less experienced and go to their rescue when needed. Camaraderie keeps everyone moving in harmony.
And whether on the river, in life and at work, humor may not be the key to success, but it does make everything better.
