Beyond the Score: The Final Fermata
Leadership is tough. It isn’t for the faint of heart.
In life we assume that if we work hard and do a good job, a position of leadership will be our reward. And often in society that is the case. It feels glamorous to get a promotion. It makes us feel good about ourselves.
But eventually reality sets in. The challenges of managing multiple projects, team members, and our own emotions can become overwhelming quickly. Like the Kobayashi Maru, it can feel like an unwinnable scenario.
Over the last several weeks, we’ve confronted the root of the unease that accompanies leadership: the internal emotional powderkeg welling up inside of us. We have also looked at the anxious spark that can turn complicated relationships into internal turmoil.
The goal of the entire Beyond the Score series has been to help get you out of that fixed, binary mindset of good versus bad, and instead, equip you with the actionable techniques to operate within the nuances of life.
Together we have learned that the unease you feel isn’t a monster - it’s a messenger. Instead of letting it weigh you down like a millstone, do something with it. Name it, share it, and EMBRACE IT! This often requires us to do something we aren’t good at as leaders - slow down!
But by slowing down and taking the time to name, share, and embrace the anxiety we are feeling, we begin to see it as the gift that it can be. And that gift of awareness becomes the seed from which self-regulation and perspective begin, setting the foundation for you to become a Portfolio Manager of your own emotional reserves.
As the apostle Paul reminds us in the book of Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
That anxiety you are feeling is an echo of your internal habits. To get out of the Kobayashi Maru, you have to reprogram the computer. You have to move from a fixed to a growth mindset. And when you do, you begin to see the world not as black and white, but with beautiful colors to be enjoyed.
That change requires a tactical shift and not just a philosophical framework. When you are driving 70 mph on the freeway, you can’t change lanes looking only in the rear view mirror. If you do, you’ll end up crashing into the car in front of you. Self-regulation demands this increase in awareness—of all that is going on around and inside of you.
So, be thankful for the opportunity you have to lead and influence others. Managing the stresses of leadership is the tough stuff they don’t tell you when they give you the job. When the challenges come, slow down. See the gift of unease and unrest as the messenger that it is.
Altering your perspective begins with… well… altaring it first. Share your requests and struggles in prayer, asking for God’s guidance in the tough stuff of life.
Leadership unease isn’t a flaw—it’s a signal. The IN TONE Leadership framework equips leaders to slow down, regulate anxiety, and reframe internal pressure into clarity and growth.
If this series has resonated with you, IN TONE Leadership, Let’s Take It From the Top, and Gotta Get Back in Time offer a deeper exploration of how to lead with awareness, sustainability, and conviction—especially when leadership feels heavy.
Like Captain Kirk, it’s time to reprogram your computer. You can beat the perceived Kobayashi Maru.
Remember you are #Wired4Leadership!
I’ll see you at the next rehearsal, my friends!