On a recent flight out of my home airport (BNA), I found myself paying attention to the Baggage Claim sign. Since I rarely check luggage, it’s not something I look for but on this day, it stood out.
Baggage Claim is that busy part of the airport where you pick up every piece of luggage you checked. If you’re lucky, yours will emerge with no damage. Then you take it with you. Unclaimed luggage might end up getting searched and sometimes destroyed. If you checked it, you need to claim it.
As The Boss, you’ve probably had to deal with some of the “baggage” your direct reports bring with them to work. This includes certain behaviors and maybe some drama. But have you claimed your baggage?
In my experience, there are three types of baggage, all of which needs to be claimed and owned.
- Past Baggage. I spent 15 years in the Navy. Most of that career wasn’t great and I worked for a significant number of inept bosses. When I left the Navy, I carried quite a bit of resentment which prevented me from fully enjoying the freedom of civilian life. It wasn’t until I let that past baggage go that I began to experience personal and professional success. What past baggage are you holding on to?
- Present Baggage. What biases, positive and negative are you living with now? If you’re not paying attention to them, you may not be living up to your potential and you may not be developing your direct reports effectively. Are you looking at your team as unique individuals with potential or comparing them to your own mental models?
- Future Baggage. What limitations are you setting for yourself? What measure of success do you use? I knew a pastor once that was satisfied that his congregation numbered 200. His father, also a pastor maxed out his congregation at 100. But would his accomplishment be more significant if he set a goal to grow a congregation based on mission and scope more than just his father’s headcount? What future goals are you chasing that have REAL meaning to you and are not just arbitrary numbers put up by others?
This week, try doing a baggage claim. By paying attention to it, you’ll be better at managing it. As The Boss, you can’t properly deal with the baggage of others until you deal with your own. I’m working on a personal inventory this week. Will you join me?
