Recently I was called for jury duty. It seems that it always comes at the most inopportune time of year, but I believe it is an important responsibility for all Americans to fulfill. Just think about if we ever find ourselves on trial. I know that I would want the best and brightest of my peers to be on the jury – not just the ones who weren’t clever enough to get out of serving. I took a textbook to study while I waited, a few snacks, a bottle of water and the best attitude I could force myself to have! I went and sat and waited, watched the compulsory video, sat, waited some more, and finally was called into the courtroom to go through the jury selection process. There, I was treated to some leadership lessons which I now share with you.
As you would imagine, the one in charge of the courtroom was the judge. There was no question that he was the one with the final say on everything. He led his team through a process which they had obviously done many times, though nobody seemed to be disengaged due to repetition. Everyone did the job they were asked to do professionally and accurately, all under the supervision of the judge. Looking back on the experience, I am struck with several strong examples of a leader who knew what they needed to accomplish, cared about the outcome, and had respect for all parties impacted.
First, the judge was a leader who kept order in his courtroom. Everything that needed to be done was accomplished in a manner that gave others confidence. Even the defendant seemed to appreciate the fact that the judge knew how to guide everyone through each step. I could tell that they were nervous, and rightly so, about how things would turn out, but I could also sense their assurance that the proceedings would be handled with order and justice, not chaos. Leaders do this. They give people confidence even in the midst of stressful situations. Leaders stay calm and make sure that the things that need to happen are done in an orderly way.
Next, the judge kept things on track. As the attorneys stated their cases and interviewed potential jurors, the judge would keep an eye on the clock, gently reminding each side that they needed to stay on point and stay on time. This is another quality of great leaders – they help their team stay focused on the things that are of greatest importance. There are certainly times when it is appropriate to let the discussion go down whatever rabbit trail comes along, but most of the time, as was the case in the courtroom, teams need to stay focused on the priorities and get the job done. Strong leaders help their team get from point A to point B and so on. I was impressed by the judge’s ability to guide the process to an efficient and effective end. All leaders must do the same.
The third thing that really struck me was the respect which the judge gave to everyone in the courtroom. Though he was the one with full authority, he made sure to be gracious and grateful to every potential juror doing their civic duty. I know that I felt better about being there because of the respectful treatment and I believe others did as well. The judge also treated every person on his team and the attorneys’ as if they were as important as he. At no time was there any sign that the judge felt superior to the other officers of the court, even though he had the positional power to do whatever he chose. It was a great reminder to me that leaders must treat their team members and clients with a deep sense of respect and as equals.
All of what I am describing about respect is great, but the most impressive thing the judge did to show respect was to treat the defendant well. As much respect was given to them as was to others, and if I had been in their position, I would’ve really appreciated not being treated as anything less than the rest of the people in the room. It was true that they may have made some poor decisions for which they might pay a hefty price, but the judge didn’t let their mistakes stand in the way of his showing respect to them and valuing them as a fellow human being. Leaders must do the same. No one is perfect and we all have different levels of gifts and talents. Sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes we fail. Great leaders are able to look past this and see the value in everyone. Great leaders lift people up, show grace, and help their team members become better human beings.
The jury experience wasn’t how I wanted to spend my day. However, it showed me a real-life example of a good leader in action and I’m glad I was there. We can all learn from this experience. Lead well.