A small drive that turned into a leadership lesson

I’d just returned from vacation, refreshed and eager, when I got the notice that a long-awaited tech gadget of mine had been taken back to the delivery office. Since I wasn’t home, I’d have to pick it up myself.

The place wasn’t far, but unfamiliar. Extremely excited, I hopped into the car, navigation on. That’s when I decided to make a small game of it — inspired by the “try-not-to” challenges my daughter invents in the blink of an eye.

My rule: no looking at the map. I’d rely only on the audio cues from the navigation assistant.

At first, it was smooth sailing. Straight roads, clear instructions — easy. But soon I hit narrower lanes, intersections, other cars weaving around me. The stakes grew: I had to reach the office before closing time. Anxiety crept in. Eventually, I broke my own rule and glanced at the screen. With the visual cues, I found my way, claimed my package, and headed home, prize in hand.

The parallels

The drive got me thinking about parallels to the professional world:

Distractions happen. Vacations, personal time, or unexpected breaks — even good ones — can pause momentum on a project.
Initial guidance works. Clear, simple directions (like leadership instructions) can get you through straightforward stretches.
Step-by-step instructions don’t always work. As counter-intuitive as it may sound, the vision of what you want to achieve can enable people more than instruction manuals.
Complexity escalates. As challenges grow — market shifts, competitive noise, tough trade-offs — audio-only guidance isn’t enough.
Pressure mounts. Deadlines loom, anxiety builds, and the fear of missing the window grows real.

Show the map

That’s when leadership shows its true value. Visionary leaders don’t just give “turn left, go straight” audio cues. They provide the full picture — context, clarity, and vision. They help teams navigate complexity, cut through noise, and make confident turns.

Leadership isn’t about position. It’s about action. It’s about showing people the map when the road gets tough. That’s the kind of leader I strive to be — one who helps the team see the path, not just hear it.