What can we learn from spiders?  PLENTY!

An article from the USA Weekend (June 22-24 2007- by Ruppel SHell) made me stop and think how coaching and leadership relates to spiders.

Let's first learn a few thikgs about the orb-weaver spider, a spider that spins a wheel-shaped web common in gardens, fields and forests.
      "An orb-weaver, like all spiders, has eight eyes but terrible eyesight. Its web enables this functionally blind, earthbound creature to ensare fast flying insects...Orb-weaver spiders produce up to seven chemically distinct kinds of silk, not all of them sticky...Orb-weaving spiders know how to avoid sticky parts of their handiwork...At the end of each leg are three claws; one is opposable and steadies the spider on its wobbly web. If the spider gets stuck, it uses its third claw to cut itself loose."

As you can see, we can learn plenty from this blind insect, who can use its talents to stay alive, and has a tool to free itself when it gets stuck!

Now let's take a look at ourselves- do we use our talents to their full potential?  Do we constantly create problems (sticky webs) for ourselves and then get stuck? Do we blame others for our problems? Granted, we are more complex than spiders, but often the solution is in simplicity!

How can we stop getting stuck in the webs we weave? Simple Steps:

• Build Your Physical and Emotional Reserves: a great leader begins with a strong person

• High Productivity: time and priority management (self management) is your responsibility; focusing time and energy, taking the right action on the high value items- delegate the rest (learn how to delegate)
   
• Self-Management: knowing your limits and stretching outside your comfort zone in order to grow; take time out for yourself; stop eating lunch at your desk!
   
• Communicate Effectively: be part of the solution, not part of the problem; listen to understand, not to argue

• Establish Boundaries: your time and resources will always be in demand, but you can choose whether you are a victim or not: set clear and reasonable boundaries and expectations- learn how to say "no"
   
• 100% Is Barely Enough: be accurate with your work, continue to improve and innovate. Become a life-time learner

• Innovate: Take the initiative- speak up if you see a problem- constructively and courteously tell people what they need to know, not what they want to hear

• Manage Up and "hands-off": do not micro-manage. Make it easy for your manger to manage you- make it easy for the team you manage- communicate. Coach the people you manage to help you help them; use technology (but not exclusively)-make time for informal face-to-face meetings, roundtable discussions, luch- be accessible!

Don't get stuck on your title or position:  EGO, Excludes Great Opportunity

 

 

Hi Liked the story - thanks. If it's one thing I've found with a number of managers and leaders is that they tend to use one tool for everything and wonder why it doesn't work out sometimes. Relates well to a quote I like: Definition of insanity - Doing the same thing and yet expecting different results. Regards. Pete