ARTICULATED

Not that this is rocket science, but nothing can paralyze a body quite like the fear of making a mistake, certainly if that fear is reinforced by a leader. The times when I’ve worked for a boss who seemed to spend their days just waiting for me to stumble, my creativity flat-lined and my innovation hibernated. By contrast, when I’ve been given latitude to make mistakes without fear of disproportionate criticism, I’ve flourished.

This little life lesson came to me recently on, of all places, the flag football field. In that particular environment, I’m embarrassed to admit that sometimes, I have been that oppressive leader – even when I’m not in charge.  I have been an agent for ensuring that neither my teammates nor I have a particularly great time.

I’ve known this for a while but have been oddly unable to address it. I’ve spent more time making excuses for my impatience. But this past Sunday, I tried an experiment. For two games, I completely lightened up. I focused on my attitude, not other peoples’ performance. I cast aside frustration. I encouraged my teammates to take it easy, even when the game was on the line, and made damn sure I led by example. I reminded myself that winning flag football games simply does not matter. I mean, really…

It was a little bumpy at first. Then everyone played really well. Then our team played far better than it had up until then. Then we won our games with authority. Then I said, “Wow.” And I’ve scarcely stopped thinking about it since.

Last night I had dinner with a close friend who is a very high-level congressional staffer. We’ve been friends since our mid-20s, so I confess to be partial to him. Yet I never cease to be amazed at his capacity to single-handedly, inadvertently challenge some of my most closely held ideas.

To my mind, this guy is a genuine public servant. Over the years, I’ve never been able to detect anything that’s “in it” for him. Who could guess how many lobbying jobs he’s turned down, ones that would probably double or triple his salary. He never seems drunk by the political game, instead viewing it only as the means to an end. He suffers no egomania. He has no discernible private agenda.

From my view, he’s made it to a position of considerable influence by being a good public servant through being a measured, pragmatic voice for what he believes is right. More and more, watching him operate flies in the face of my perception of the vast majority of politicians -– motivated by what is best for their careers almost entirely at the expense of what is best for their country.

Of course, he’s not the only person who serves on Capitol Hill for the right reasons. He’s just the only one in a position to challenge my notions. And he does so without even trying.