Stay In Your Lane

Let’s be clear… just what lane are you in? That’s probably the first question you should ask yourself in any work situation. One lesson I’ve learned over 30 years in business is that if people can understand, own, and maintain their roles in an organization, that organization will succeed.

Business is tough and partnerships are even tougher if there’s no organizational chart to show who’s responsible for what.

If each team member can say, “my lane is marketing or sales or operations or vision,” and own that, your organization will be far more successful than if everyone instead tries to do a little bit of everything. In my experience, operating as a collective never really works. That may be why I’ve never been a fan of co-presidents or co-CEOs.

If we’re on the highway, and we’re all driving in the same lane or crossing back and forth all the time from right to left to middle, it’s going to slow everything down. Instead, when everyone owns a lane, takes responsibility for five, ten or fifteen things and says “these are mine and I’m going to take care of them,” that’s when we’re on track and can stop looking in the rear-view mirror.

Ladies and gentlemen, take your lanes

Step One – Take stock of your own abilities and talents.

Step Two – Own those things.

Step Three – Get everyone to agree to the lane setup and make sure they clearly understand. 

Step Four - Publish the strategy, document it and get everyone to agree.

Step Five – Get in your lane, stay there and make sure you do what you say you’re going to do.

But….what if…

What if you have an idea for another lane and really want to veer over to share that great thought?

Stay where you are. Instead, talk to the person whose lane you’re eyeing. Say “I know this is your lane, but I’m seeing something that might help you. Can I share my thoughts?”

As CEO, I have to look into every lane but if I have a great idea for someone else, the worst thing I can possibly do is to veer over and implement it. In the past, I didn’t realize that. While I was trying to run an organization, I’d have an idea for a lane one of my employees was in. So…I’d go in over the weekend, revamp everything and put my new idea in place. Then, I’d leave a note, explaining how this whole new system was going to work and I’d expect everyone to love it. 

They hated it. Instead of talking and engaging with people, sharing my ideas and listening to theirs, I’d just veered right into their lane. In fact, I’d sometimes get so far into their lanes that I’d push them into the ditch. Then I’d say, “Where’d you go? What happened? I told you what to do!”

That’s the entrepreneurial curse. You think you can and should do everything. In fact, you shouldn’t. Staying in your own lane is key.

If someone else is in their lane but keeps bumping into yours – what’s the strategy? 

Everyone has good ideas, so remember – if you think you’re the smartest person in the room, it’s time to change rooms! Ask the lane bumper to share those ideas, even if your ego might not want you to let you listen. The idea could be great – or it might not. Either way, listen, consider, be thankful for the input, do or don’t implement the new idea, and then get everyone back into their lanes. When everyone has the confidence to stay in their own lanes and handle their own responsibilities, we all succeed.

Ask yourself: What’s your lane and are you in it? Does everyone else know you’re in it? And how does the road ahead look?