I just returned from a conference in which I attended a session on servant leadership. Surprisingly, the primary topic shifted toward how a servant leader owes it to their followers to allow them to learn from failure. The discussion used the example of how some of our current workforce had been done a disservice by their “helicopter parents” who tended to be on the constant watch of their children in order to steer them from any problems and challenges that might arise. While on the surface it may seem like that is what good parents should do, the result has been that many children are not able to handle their own problems, now that they are an adult and part of a professional team. But, it gets worse! Another phrase that I had not heard before was “lawn mower parents,” which was used to describe the next level of the overly-protective helicopter parents. These parents not only try to steer their children clear of problems, but they actually walk just ahead of them and mow down any tall grass and weeds which might be a challenge for their children to handle. These are parents who do their children’s homework for them when it is too difficult or work to lobby on behalf of their children to get selected for a place on the team or a role in a play. In either case, helicopter or lawn mower, problems arise because the children never learn to handle challenges, making them weak and entitled, which spells disaster when they enter the workforce.
I bring this up because sometimes leaders do the same thing with their team members. Helicopter leaders are those who are overly micro-managing. They are so intent on getting what they want, they don’t allow their team members to figure things out on their own, or learn from failure. The result is a team that can’t think or act for themselves. The next level is the lawn mower leader, which I think is better phrased as a weed-whacker leader because instead of allowing team members to grow through their active learning process of trial, error, getting knocked down and getting back up, the leader picks up the whacker and sends weeds, grass, and dirt flying, leaving the followers in a cloud of dust and debris. The job may be getting done just as the leader wants it done, but no one is learning anything and the next generation of leaders are less equipped to handle challenges the next time they arise.
As a leader, it’s important to direct, mentor and guide our team, but just a parent must allow their children to learn from their mistakes, so, too, we must allow for our followers to learn how to handle things for themselves so that they grow through the experience. Bottom line – the only weeds a leader should be whacking are the ones directly beneath their own feet.
Lead well.