Bad Haircut, Great Leadership Lesson

During an overnight business trip to Philadelphia, I desperately needed a haircut.

I spotted a barber shop while waiting at a traffic light. It looked promising, so I decided to stop in for a quick trim.

As I walked into the shop, I was immediately impressed by its cleanliness, brightness, and organization—clear signs of a professional setup. I was told to wait for 'Steve,' who would return shortly. When Steve arrived, he greeted me with a warm smile and began cutting my hair, engaging me in friendly conversation about work, family, and vacation plans. His easygoing nature made the 20 minutes in the barber chair fly by.

When Steve finished, I instinctively said the haircut looked great, more out of habit than any real assessment. I hadn’t given it a thorough look, just a quick glance in the mirror.

Things looked a bit off when I caught my reflection in the rearview mirror of the rental car as I backed out of my parking spot.

At that afternoon's meeting, I felt self-conscious about the haircut; the next morning, a shower did little to improve things. When I returned home, my wife, Jamie Leddin, EdD , immediately noticed and asked what had happened to my hair.

Her advice?

Never wander into a random barbershop again.

Here’s the thing: Steve was a genuinely nice guy and a great conversationalist. I felt valued and heard in his chair. But I needed a good haircut, and that’s where things fell short.

Connecting My Haircut to Leadership

The bad haircut experience is a strong reminder of the delicate balance required in many roles, especially in leadership.

Steve excelled at the people side of the business (I enjoyed talking with him), but when it came to delivering the goods, he fell short (he really messed up my haircut)!

Many leaders face a similar challenge. While it's crucial to show respect, empower others, and build strong connections with the team, having the skills, knowledge, and expertise to achieve goals with excellence is equally important.

Just like a haircut, leadership isn’t only about making people feel good in the moment; it’s also about consistently delivering results.

Consider Your Performance

1. Do you strike the right balance between building relationships and delivering results in your leadership role?
2. Are you ensuring that your skills and expertise match the expectations you set for your team, or do you need to improve in certain areas?
3. How can you better integrate empathy and effectiveness to consistently achieve both team satisfaction and high performance?

Make it a great day!

Patrick

P.S. If you're interested in turning disruptions—like a bad haircut—into opportunities for amazing results, consider having me present "Disrupt Everything" to your team. Contact my agents, Michele Lucia or Canesha Appleton , and let's turn your challenges into remarkable outcomes!

#disruption #leadership #success