Under Construction

Several weeks ago we hosted our second open enrollment Leadership Experience.

24 elite leaders gathered at the Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga, NY to embark on an intimate and transformative leadership journey. Read on, as I share how “perfectly imperfect” the Experience actually was …

Sandy and I had the highest intention for every detail to be experienced as pristine… one could argue even perfect.

The stage was set …

As participants entered the Adelphi Hotel on the morning of day one, the Victorian style lobby felt like a warm embrace, the rich history of the hotel, which dates back to 1877, was palpable, and all the extravagance the hotel had to offer matched the caliber of each leader - Leaders knew they were somewhere special and were up to something special.

The participants made their way past the lobby and into the “room where it happens”. It was impeccably set-up; the light beaming in from the windows was energizing; the Alchemy materials were glistening with our branding; the food, the drinks, the snacks were flowing (we serve the BEST bagels in Upstate NY). Leaders found their seats and settled in.

The clock struck 9:00 am …

Then, as the clock neared 9:00am, Sandy and I welcomed everyone to the room and acknowledged their arrival only to be inundated with the distinct sounds of jackhammers, drills and THIS.

We all look up, out, and around puzzled, confused, and irritated, quickly realizing that parts of The Adelphi were undergoing renovations. Renovations at 9am on a Tuesday, DURING our session? - not ideal.

Sandy and I looked at each other and knew what we had to do - we had to “alchemize the situation” and make the construction part of our leadership conversation!

Enter stage left, Mike Kotsis…

About half way through the day, and during a lull in the jackhammering, a participant (who also happens to be a dear friend and source of inspiration in my life) Mike Kotsis raises his hand and says “gee…. Is leadership kinda like this hotel? This hotel is a masterpiece AND is under construction. Perhaps we are all masterpieces and also always under construction.” Mic drop moment.

The infinite game …

The hotel was sending us a powerful message - a reminder that we are ALL only always under construction. This is the infinite game of leadership. While the Adelphi Hotel was founded in 1877, it will never be done growing, evolving, renovating. It’s playing the infinite game. Had the hotel chosen a finite game, we for sure would not be hosting our Leadership Experiences at this hotel. The hotel most certainly would not be the most sought after location during the summer Saratoga Race Track season.

As leaders we will never be done growing, evolving and renovating. The misunderstanding here is that most leaders relate to leadership as a finite game -

“Oh once I get this role, then I will be a leader”

“Once I do this training then I’ll be a leader”

“Once I learn how to do this, I’ll be a leader”

Truth is, just like the Adelphi Hotel, there is always something that can be served by being under construction. There is always an area of your personal or professional life worth growing, evolving or renovating. You just have to be willing to look.

Are you willing to look?