I’m always looking for life lessons that apply to leadership. I try hard to listen to the unplanned things that come my way for the learning within them. The parallels between my life and my calling (i.e., what I do for a living) are sometimes too significant to ignore.

I’ve had a humbling and human reminder recently. It’s small, but significant enough to make me want to take notice.

Two weeks ago I fell and broke my “great toe” (you know, the biggest one). For those who are interested (and everyone seems to ask), I stumbled on a couple of steps and the toe snapped. It hurt a lot, and I felt very silly about it – which was humbling enough.

But the other consequences of this accident include the following:

– Spending a weekend on my back icing and propping up my foot when all I really wanted to do was get some things done.

– Having to wear a hard-soled orthopedic boot for the next 6 weeks – it doesn’t match my suits and forces me to wear several pair of socks in our frigid Michigan weather.

– Most significantly, slowing down and having to count on others (or ask for assistance) – which just don’t come naturally or easily to me.

It seems to take forever to get anywhere with this toe and foot that don’t bend painlessly and this strange clunky boot. I can’t be on my feet all day facilitating workshops or planning sessions (I’m still doing these, but must be conscious of needing to sit down more often). And I’ve had to ask my husband to keep the sidewalk cleared, carry things up and down steps, and do some of the other chores I’ve done habitually throughout the years without asking for help.

It makes me realize how quickly I move through life, how independent I’ve been all these years, and how little I ask for help. Funny thing, these are some of the same things I also coach my clients on. How blind we can be to our own failings! I’ll try a little harder to “practice what I preach” now.

What life lessons have you had that you can apply to your leadership?

2 Responses to “Life Imitates Leadership”