Pitfall - Leadership Reimagined

Scott Lewis, Senior Project Manager, MMR Constructors, Inc

I recently attended a leadership class, and while I found some of the information beneficial, I was disappointed there was no mention about the pitfalls of leadership. Maybe it was because the class was geared toward the small business community and not to our industry. Thus, I want to share my thoughts of what I believe leadership training must cover.

In the 1980s, I loved going to my cousin’s house as it was located in the type of neighborhood where boys could be boys. Backyard baseball, corner lot football, sugarcane fields to hunt in and board games on rainy days were just some of what our group enjoyed. This all changed when my cousin got an Atari video game system. Now we had joystick-induced fun added to our adventures and my favorite game was Pitfall, in which Pitfall Harry sought out treasure in a jungle filled with enemies and dangers—all in a twenty-minute time frame!

I think that the pitfalls of being a supervisor in our industry are much like those faced by Pitfall Harry. First, we have a time constraint for our daily toolbox meeting and for getting everyone lined out for the day’s tasks. Second, much like that original 50-byte game, we, too, traverse our very own jungle filled with enemies and dangers. However, our enemies and dangers are more internal than external in nature and can be summed up with four simple words which exemplify the tenets of leadership.

Ethics: defined as “the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group.” Ethical leadership is a commitment to doing what is right, not what personally enriches you or makes you look good. It is about having strong moral principles and holding yourself accountable. This is essential in building loyalty and trust in your teams.

Ego: defined as “a reasonable or justifiable sense of one’s worth or importance.” The positive aspect of ego allows leaders to take decisive action, inspire others and make effective decisions. However, when we talk about the pitfalls, it can be very dangerous. The negative traits of ego can include arrogance, defensiveness and a lack of openness to ideas and changes, ultimately affecting the team and the entire organization.

"A good leader does not plant a tree for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the future leaders that they mentor."

Humility: defined as “freedom from pride or arrogance.” Leaders need to understand both their strengths and weaknesses. Being a humble leader makes you more approachable because, without humility, others will recognize you as someone who believes you are always right.

Morality: defined as “a doctrine or system of moral conduct.” A moral leader creates an atmosphere where their teams act responsibly and serves as the key to bringing the other three tenets of leadership together because moral leaders possess integrity and display a commitment to always do what is right.

Personally, I am not sure if any of my peers or leaders over the last thirty years in our industry have ever seen me as a great manager, but I hope some of them did. One thing is certain—my ego tells me I am a great leader because I have always put these four tenets of leadership before my own personal needs and desires. I always accepted my role as a leader with the understanding that I would not carry forward the negative traits of the supervisors who came before me, just because it was now my turn to get my due at the expense of the project, the company, or those who worked for me.

I have loved being a leader and have looked at my role as a blessing. Still, my efforts did not always produce immediate results. No; much like planting a tree, one does not reap the rewards of shade immediately. A good leader does not plant a tree for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the future leaders that they mentor.

In closing, being a leader is rewarding. We leaders are not much different from our hero, Pitfall Harry, who collected his rewards while on his journey—just remember to avoid the pitfalls along the way, or it’s game over.