- I had to communicate when
I was going to pause my pedaling because her cranks stopped too.
- I had to say when the bump
was coming and not just know it or I ran the risk of losing my partner or hearing
about it (“I need more notice, please”)
- I had to point out
interesting things because her vision was limited to side to side. An exponential side effect when the
stoker is half the size of the pilot/captain.
- I had to listen to the
needs of my partner because I could not see how things were going.
Leading others requires many of the same skills as riding a
tandem bike.
- Communication is key. We can forget sometimes how much our
actions impact other around us. Conversations
we have, actions we take, and words we write can quickly change
relationships and culture.
- Sharing knowledge can help
shape behavior. If I said “bump
coming” and paused pedaling, my wife knew to pause and flex out of her
seat to reduce the impact.
Likewise, if we know important information about a situation, a
client, or a customer we give our team a better chance of success by
sharing it with enough time to react.
- Looking ahead helps our
teams prepare for the future. In a similar fashion, the peripheral views
of our followers/partners of the surrounding environment are equally
important and many times rewarding.
The view from a different perspective can help determine the path
to the future.
- Listening can clarify what
is seen or not seen. From the front
of the bike I couldn’t tell if my wife was wearing out or slowing down, if
she needed a drink, or if she was in pain from sitting too long. I had to listen for her to tell me and
at times I had to ask. Some of our
teams may be afraid to ask questions or share a thought. Leaders need to ask the right questions
and then listen to hear important information.
Riding the tandem required a change – a change in thinking,
communicating, and acting. As we
completed our 28 mile ride we decided it was pretty fun. We could move at a faster pace and cover a
greater distance with both of us pedaling together. My wife could look around
more knowing someone was watching the future road. We could talk better being just a couple feet
apart. We accomplished something new
together and shared a unique experience.
But we would have missed out if we would have stopped after the first
couple of miles because it was different or awkward at first. We adjusted and both of us committed to a new
adventure and saw it through…and will most likely seek out the bicycle built
for two again.
