Balloon flight, shot with an HD HERO camera from GoPro. from Francois Brahic on Vimeo.
I saw this video yesterday and I couldn’t quite get it out of my mind. Not because I was fascinated by the technology, thought it is pretty cool. My fascination, as it often does, turned to the leadership lessons “hidden” in this video.
Here are a couple hidden gems – I’m guessing you’ll find others, and when you do I hope you will share them as comments for everyone to benefit from.
Creativity
Ok, so someone thought to attach a small camera to a weather balloon and see what they got. (I think you will agree they got something pretty amazing!).
Questions to ponder:
If these folks shared the equivalent of this idea in your office, what would have happened?
Are you supporting or discouraging this kind of creativity? Hint – if you aren’t hearing wild ideas you are discouraging it one way or another.
Perspective
As a leader we must be able to think, see and operate at a variety of levels of detail. As a individual contributor, we are most often rewarded for the ground level perspective. As a leader we must be able to see at ground level, at tree top level and globally. This video literally shows us those levels in dramatic fashion. Take this as a reminder that to be the leders we are capable of, and that our organizations need, we must be able to find and use all of these perspectives, especially the higher level ones.
Questions to ponder:
Are you consciously looking at the global view?
What are you doing to make sure you consistently are looking at the different perspectives required for individual, team and organizational success?
When some organizational leaders hear the word “creativity,” they often cringe. Usually this is because they view leadership has a hiearchical structure and organizational goals/objectives as fixed entities. In doing so, they may make their own role more difficult to fulfill.
Instead, as Kevin says, they can strengthen their organization and make their own leadership experience more enriching if they work hard to nurture the creative impulses of everyone in the organization. I have worked at a dozen or so organizations over the years and worked WITH over hundred organizations over the years. One, in particular, stands out as having an environment which nurtures individual and organizational creativity. Manchester College was recently designated as having the best small college working environment. Individuals and the organization flourish in this environment.
I love the whole process of brainstorming and the creativity it brings out in people who think they are not creative. Especially hearing the joy in themselves when they do come up with something and they see that idea lead to others and ultimately a new unique and wonderful solution to a problem they all thought was unsolvable.
Thanks for letting me share.
bette
Anyone else get a little motion sickness from watching this?
So I learned that sometimes exposing people to a new perspective can be uncomfortable. But if you can help them get past the initial queasiness, then it will open up more options and opportunities. Some people only see the trees. Others see the forest. Both are necessary.
Indeed Tim. And some may even see the atmosphere if we give them (or ourselves) that opportunity.
Kevin 🙂
1. Always launch to new heights with a strong base and foundation (values/beliefs) for they will sustain you during your leadership journey.
2. As you soar into unchartered territory and start seeing the global view, sharpen your situational awareness skills for there will be some unknowns.
3. Just as the camera does in this video, share your unique vision with others.
4. As your success increases as a leader, remain grounded because while you enjoy(ed) seeing a different perspective, realize that it is through others and their unique contributions that help(ed) contribute to you reaching new heights.
Well stated!
Kevin 🙂
This might sound a bizarre thing to say but I loved the silence in the first part of the film. I think that having a stillness practice such as meditation, helps enormously with creativity; as in the stillness we are more able to tap into the field of infinite possibility – the source of true creativity. How many organisations value stillness or encourage such a practice – not many I’d venture to say. At least not yet anyway! Thanks Kevin
The value of silience, while understood by most, is seldom practiced, especially in a group setting. Thanks for an excellent reflection from this video.
Kevin 🙂