June 28th, 2012
I cannot remember whether I read it, watched it or heard it, but it was an interview with Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. The conversation was about how, even though Lewis was nearing the end of his career, he was still in incredible shape and a dominant force. While a lot of attention has been paid in the past to how hard he trains, Lewis was talking about the importance of his diet. He is fanatical about what he puts in his body. “There are a lot of guys who match up pretty well with me on paper,” Lewis said. “They are big and fast and strong. But their fuel will not let them beat me.”
I don’t know why, but I love that line. I can’t get it out of my head. I know that what you eat matters, but the way Lewis put it into words just brought a new clarity and intensity to the idea.
I think that the importance of fuel applies to our mental and relational abilities as well. Regardless of how smart you are, what fuel does your brain have access to? What ideas, information, experiences and relationships are you feeding it? You may be a very smart person, but your fuel might limit what you can do with those smarts.
What fuel does your team have access to?
Fuel can be a limitation or a source of advantage.
Are you seeking out, reflecting on and examining information and ideas from a lot of different fields? A lot of my work revolves around the HR function and the executive leadership space, but I rarely read anything specific to HR or leadership anymore. I find new ideas, new language, new models in reading about design, architecture, technology, anthropology, science.
Do you consistently put yourself in different kinds of situations?
Do you interact with different folks? Does your team spend time with and around the internal or external customers that you serve? Empathy can be a tremendous source of advantage, giving you access to the perspectives and experiences of others.
Do you try to fill your network of relationships with diversity?
Is your fuel limiting you or giving you an advantage?
Be good to each other.
Thanks Joe – some great questions. I think I’m pretty good at the situational stuff, and I know I can do better. For sure I need to work on diversity more, so thanks for the reminder, I appreciate it.