Leadership: Follow the Yellow Brick Road

At least once per month, a coaching colleague and I meet via Zoom for what has now been dubbed an ‘Intentions and Accountability’ (IA) session. The purpose of these sessions is to share our ideas, our personal and company plans and goals, and our accomplishments towards completing them. The sessions are quite lively, and they serve as a source of support, advocacy, accountability, and comic relief. Even though our coaching businesses are distinctly different, the 2-3 hours we spend chatting each other up have proven to be a successful endeavor, with sparks flying!

In our last IA session, out of the blue, my colleague started recording the session, and began an interviewing process asking about my advice to future leaders. The very last question he asked was something like: What pathway do you suggest young people follow that will lead them to success? Huh? Well-a, Well-a… I finally coughed out “follow the yellow brick road!” Say what??

I did not explain what I meant by that, in fact, I don’t even know why I said it. But, in pondering my response, it is indeed sage advice. Why? Because the yellow brick road is the epitome of leadership! In the Oz accounts, it represents creativity and innovation. It is where you are expected to use your brain to THINK! It is where you are expected to use your heart to CARE for others! And, it is where you are expected to use your courage to ACT!

So, what are the key leadership principles in following the yellow brick road?

1) Find an accountability partner; stop trying to do everything on your own

2) Make creativity and innovation a significant part of your journey to greatness

3) Think and reflect on your ambitions, desires, goals—on every aspect of your life

4) Be humble and compassionate, helping others to grow, achieve, and prosper

5) Act, despite your fear!