November 4, 2009
Running with your shadow and management
Shadow Race
Every time I’ve raced my shadow
When the sun was at my back,
It always ran ahead of me.
But every time I’ve raced my shadow
When my face was toward the sun,
I won.
Shel Silverstein/ A Light in the Attic
If we think of this guy’s shadow as emotions,when the sun is in his back the emotions lead the way, they are dictating how he acts…his choices are not his, they are made for him by his shadow. When he leads his emotions, on the other hand (when his face is towards the sun) he wins.
My interpretation of course and like all poems there are probably a million ways to look at it.
1. What in every day life constitutes as walking with the sun in your back and what as walking with our face towards the sun?
2. How, if at all, have you seen managers helping employees identify their shadow as separate from themselves and how, if at all have you seen managers guide employees to walk with their face towards the sun?
Looking forward to your insights,
Reut
I very much enjoyed the poem lines and your interpretation Reut! My first reaction in interpreting it had to do with ego - the line ‘I won’.
It does happen so often that managers are forgetting the power that lies in their teams / followers and that their job is much more easier and natural if they don’t compete with their team members (every time I raced my shadow) but they uncover the leader in every one of them, the things that put them ahead (it always ran ahead of me).
Thank you Reut!
Dear Reut:
Great poem and interpretation. If I liken the sun to a goal which serves as a beacon of light that we need to reach , the shadows which could be likened to questions or doubts of reaching the goal are behind the man and hence man is able to clearly see the path ahead and work towards achieving the goal. While if the person does not have a goal or the path unclear, all that is seen is chaos which is when the shadow is ahead and weighs the person down and causes failure.
Managers should serve as the light and remove the doubts that linger on whether the mission can be accomplished. How this can be done is to provide the followers a clear goal, the path to the goal, the knowledge of potential roadblocks and expectations. Once this is known the shadow is behind the team and it can work towards reaching the light.
Regards
Raghu
When I’m not integrated, my back is to the sun.
When I’m “In-Integrity”, I face the sun and my way is well lit moving forward.
Well, now, isn’t this interesting?!
Running with your emotions.
According to Webster’s dictionary, the root source of “emotions”is the Latin “ex-movere” which means to move away! …
e-motion … e-motive … e-motivate …
Now, to your analogy of running with your shadow and/or with/into the sun.
There are times when we need to enjoy our emotions and the support they provide.
There are times when our emotions work against us and we end up heeding the wrong little voice inside.
Just because we feel like giving something away doesn’t mean it is the kind thing to do.
Giving is not always helpful but is hurtful to the situation at hand. So we need to manage our emotions effectively. And sometimes that means running with and against the sun, as needed.
A person who runs on emotions will tend to help others without thinking. That’s unwise. Just being moved emotionally is immature.
You cannot keep rescuing people out of their self-induced difficulties. Sometimes it is better for people to experience tough situations, to help them cope next time by themselves — i.e., to be e-motivated.
Much like the wind in sails, the shadow might be an obstacle or a boon. If the shadow is in front of you, it is an obstacle. If the shadow is behind you, it is a boon. As I saw this as being a metaphor for how people can work, the shadow might be emotional influence. If you are blinded or overcome by emotion making it so you cannot clearly see the path ahead, your plight will be harder. If you are encouraged, optimistic, and enthusiastic, you will be supported and boosted by the emotional strength. It is much easier to sail gallantly into the horizon with the wind (shadow) at your back than to sail upwind through currents and hindrances.
Whether it be on the inside (personal feelings) or outside (management, peer or colleague encouragement/difficulty), emotions play a big factor in how well a person, team, organization or system perform. Individuals that enjoy their work, colleagues, and environment will thrive while those who are facing battles (intrapersonal or interpersonal) will have the odds against them.
Smooth sailing to you Reut and all of KE’s constituents.
Autumn leaves
Crackle and fold
Full of fiery brightness
October breezes
Chilly and bold
Our shadows blown steeply behind us
On your back or in your face, the sun is warm either way. Follow your shadow or carve your own path, either way you’ll be led to discovery. The greatest lesson is learning that you have a choice and that you make them all the time. It is a beautiful thing when someone’s eyes open.
SEB
Reut:
Great analogy as usual. As others have pointed out your emotions are a part of you. You know that I embrace this concept more than most.
I tell people that “having” an emotional reaction to something ; anger, fear, sadness, is human and part of their “whole person”.
The old theory of leaving your “emotions” at home is crap. I want people bringing their passion to the job. You must balance your emotion with rationality. It is okay to be angry, it is not okay to let your anger drive your decisions or behavior,
The puprpose of employee assistance plans, “stress” management techniques, and other related interventions is a recognition of the “wholeness” and properly conducted a way to help employees walk with your face ” to the sun”.
When you do this you allow employees to “join up” or commit rather than comply. My thoughts….