The Butterfly in the Cocoon

A note from Gene...

When I was 5 years old, my mother bought me a book about butterflies because I was fascinated with them. The book had lots of colorful pictures – and it also showed how the butterfly started as a caterpillar and somehow miraculously transformed into a butterfly. There were lots of caterpillars around my grandmother’s house, so one day I got a jar with a lid, poked a bunch of holes in it and pushed a little caterpillar into the jar. I checked that jar every day because I knew the caterpillar would create a cocoon – and it did. But after a week went by, I could wait no longer. I was certain the caterpillar needed help. So, I carefully removed the lid and poked a hole in the cocoon to "help" the butterfly out. Of course, my intervention prevented this from happening. Sometimes, although we may have the best of intentions, help is an impediment to a positive outcome. This is not only true in nature but at work. That’s the topic of this month’s article.

The Butterfly in the Cocoon

"God don’t make no mistakes. That’s how he got to be God." ~ Archie Bunker

I've said it before and I'll say it many times again. As a leader, the most important thing you can do is inspire others. Yes, strategy and creativity are important. But inspiration is at the top of the list of leadership competencies. If you can rev up the engines of those around you, you’re leading.

There’s one mistake I see my clients make over and over again as they try to lead and inspire others. They "help" them too much. They often want to control situations so that they are done properly – or in a particular way that makes them comfortable. They don’t allow for mistakes. The result is a bunch of demotivated employees running around in fear of making a mistake and thinking that it will result in their being humiliated, demoted or out of a job. This is not an environment that fosters inspiration. People have to be allowed to come up with their own ideas and to work things through in their own way, even if it differs from yours. It may take them extra time and effort at first, and they may make mistakes. Certainly, you want to make yourself available to help them out if they really need help. And you should take the time to teach people to do what they don’t know how to do. But don’t make the mistake of depriving them of the opportunity to learn from their own mistakes. When people are allowed to make mistakes, they learn that it’s okay to take risks, they have great learning experiences and they are inspired to contribute all they have. Don’t make the mistake of poking a hole in the cocoon. The butterfly won’t emerge.