
I hope your week has been as adventurous as mine—or maybe a bit more relaxing!
This past weekend, I took a road trip to Omaha with a friend and our kids, and we made a stop at the zoo. The weather was perfect, unlike those other zoo trips where it’s 100 degrees, and you wonder why you chose the hottest day of the year to visit! The kids were fascinated by the animals, and I have to admit, I was pretty taken by this one fish that looked like it was straight out of Bridgerton, sporting what I can only describe as a fancy head dress (see pic below for proof).
But between the sticky fingers, overpriced zoo food, long lines, and lots of laughter, my friend and I found ourselves deep in a discussion about leadership. One topic that got us particularly fired up was the phrase "Stay in your lane."
We debated it from every angle and realized it’s more complicated than it seems. Initially, "stay in your lane" might sound like a straightforward way to set expectations, but I’ve started to think it does more harm than good. When we tell our teams to "stay in their lane," are we cutting off collaboration? Are we missing out on the benefits of curiosity and empathy?
Picture a workplace where everyone is not just good at their job but also aware of how their work affects the team as a whole. If we encourage people to look beyond their own tasks—to see things from another person’s perspective and how their work can positively or negatively affect things —we can break down silos and create a more collaborative environment. It’s not just about doing your job; it’s about understanding how your work fits into the bigger picture and how it impacts others.
As I drove home, it struck me: If I only stayed in my lane while driving, I’d be pretty inefficient, maybe even a bit dangerous. So why do we think this works in the office? Instead of "stay in your lane," how about "Drive well in your lane, but keep an eye on the road (and the bigger picture)"? It’s about being a curious yet mindful team player.
I’m interested—what do you think? Is there a better way to encourage teamwork? How can we shift our language and approach to build more connected, cohesive teams?
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