Thank you for continuing to choose the path of Waymaking—a path created by intentional decisions and consistent behaviors. But as with any path, there are stumbling blocks—barriers that get in the way of our ability to be the leaders we say we want to be. These barriers inhibit us from creating meaningful relationships with others. They prevent us from leading courageously, responsibly, and inclusively. The better we understand these barriers, the better we can recognize them when (not if) they appear. And when we recognize them, we can shift our behavior to nullify them.
Bias: Our conscious and unconscious ideas about people and situations. Our brains are wired for bias—for what’s familiar. Bias helps us safely navigate the world. But applying bias to people limits our world view, our capacity for empathy, and our ability to solve problems more holistically.
Norms: Expected or typical social behavior. Outdated social constructs still relegate some communities to the margins—especially in the workplace. Going against that pattern of “acceptable marginalization” can feel risky. It’s your duty as a leader to challenge and disrupt norms when they harm your people or otherwise sideline potential.
Pressure: Continuous physical or emotional force. The pressure of meeting goals, of meeting your team’s expectations and even your expectations for yourself can get in the way of real change. It’s true that pressure creates diamonds, but it’s also true that too much pressure can crush even the strongest of materials. Building and maintaining authentic relationships—especially across differences—can feel like added pressure, but the outcome fuels career growth and drives positive business outcomes.
Less time: Competing priorities. Large spans of control. Work/life integration. A myriad of all-important things competes for our time and attention. Building relationships takes time and intentionality. But it is the single best investment we can make for our teams and for ourselves, and often pays off in greater satisfaction and productivity.
Fear: Fear of offending someone. Fear of being or doing something wrong. Fear causes stagnation. It causes us to stay “on the fence” instead of engaging in the fray. Beyond the skill-building we should all continuously gift ourselves, courageous leadership—doing the right thing even and especially when it is hard—is the solution to fear.
Disconnection: Religion. Politics. Socioeconomic status. Gender. Gender identity. Language. Ability. Culture. There can be many points of disconnection for us. But there are just as many points of connection. They may be more difficult to observe on the surface, but when you have a heart, mind, and eye for inclusion, connections can be found and made.
Relationships are the key to unlocking connection and opportunity. And these barriers prevent us from creating meaningful relationships with others—especially across dimensions of difference. It takes more time to build relationships with those who are unlike us. We may have to overcome our own biases or go against prevailing social norms. There’s more fear in that, less patience, less grace–all of which are exacerbated by periods of great turmoil (as we’re experiencing right now). Because people on spectrums of difference in our organizations often have limited internal support networks, these barriers can have exponentially negative impacts on their careers.
Friends, Waymaking is not easy. But it is simple—even in the face of barriers. We all encounter some form of these barriers. But, by being more intentional about the choices we make and the actions we take, we can remove those barriers and be the leaders we aspire to be. We can, truly, make a way.
