Head In the Game
by Mark McClanahan
I wish I had a longer commute! Can you believe I wrote that? Five years ago I changed companies and started working for Mosby Building Arts. One of the benefits I gained was cutting my commute time from 30 minutes to less than 10. What I didn’t realize was that I lost something valuable. I lost the time I previously used to get my head in the game before setting foot in the office.
As a leader, I think it’s critical to have your mind in the right place at all times. My team members are relying on me to be there for them 100% of the time. Can you imagine a professional sports coach not being present and motivated the moment she or he steps in front of the players? There’s no doubt that the best coaches have a pre-pregame routine. The same, I believe, applies to us as leaders.
So, how does wanting a longer commute relate to this? Ages ago, during my long commute, I found myself listening to talk radio or music, both of which I enjoyed. However, it dawned on me that I wasting valuable time. Time I could be using to improve myself. That’s when I discovered podcasts, which at the time were fairly new. Now they’re ubiquitous.
I began using my commute to get my head in the game. I focused my attention on podcasts that would better my management and leadership skills. There are hundreds and hundreds of podcasts to choose from. I favored podcasts from Manager Tools, Harvard Business Review, and Jack and Suzy Welch. I attribute a significant portion of my success to this change. This was truly a watershed moment for me.
Mark McClanahan (mmcclanahan@callmosby.com or 314.909.1800) is the president at Mosby Building Arts.