A Simple (But Powerful) Exercise to Strengthen Your Leadership Skills

Author

Charlene Li
August 05, 2024

You all know what I mean when I talk about a Big Gulp moment, right? 

When you are charged with a choice, one that feels dangerous and the results uncertain, you’re going to be at the edge, looking over a precipice. Your palms will be sweaty, and your heart will be beating through your chest. 

I often talk about this feeling as it relates to leaders embarking on a transformational journey within their organizations. 

But I also mean it quite literally.

Take this cliff, for instance. It’s 35 feet above the water, and I jumped from it just last month. 

I tend to do that a lot. In fact, I’ve jumped higher—we’re talking 50-foot drops. So, my splash into cool water at the End of the World cliff on the Big Island of Hawaii wasn’t anything unorthodox (though the impact did knock my contact lenses right out of my eyes!).

I watched a teenager attempt her first high jump on this same trip. She was terrified, but she wanted to join the fun. Clearly, she wasn’t going to take the 35-foot drop, so we took her to a slightly lower spot—about 30 feet. (Yes, five feet lower feels a lot different when your toes are gripping the edge of earth!) 

But she still wouldn’t go. 

Finally, someone in the water said, "OK, you're going to jump on three," and started counting. “One … two … three!”

Just like that, she took off. 

That's what disruption feels like. It's difficult—terrifying—to take that first leap or ask others to join you in those deep waters.

As experienced disruptors, we often forget how scary it can be for first-timers. We know it’s going to be messy, and we know what it feels like to jump. 

But others need support. They need encouragement or a lower ledge from which to leap. 

Still, it’s important to remember that I wasn’t always this fearless. Years ago, jumping was nerve-wracking for me. But now I've gotten used to it. Now, 35 feet doesn’t feel so high. 

The secret to embracing disruption? To love taking those high-up leaps? Safety first.

I'm comfortable with many things that feel disruptive to others. But here's my rule: I will not do things when I do not feel safe. 

I took my very first "leap of faith" at a family camp in the Sierra foothills. I climbed a 40-foot tree to a tiny platform that was 12, maybe 18 inches wide. The goal? Leap and catch a bar beyond my reach. 

I remember looking down at my family, including my two little kids. My stomach was turning upside down. I was sweating. I felt clammy. 

But I had a safety harness on, and there was a rope connecting me. I’d seen others do it before me, so despite the fear, I knew I was safe. 

So I leapt.

My approach to business disruption follows this same principle. I am always happy to try new things, but only if I adhere to a safety-first philosophy. 

If it doesn't feel safe, I’m not going forward.

Of course, you don't need to be 100 percent sure of what’s on the other side of the jump. You just have to know that no matter the outcome, you’ll be OK—and that you can accept the points of failure. 

So, as I often ask in my keynote addresses and my one-on-one sessions with executives, I want to ask you:

Are you going to be the person who steps back into their comfort zone and retreats from that edge?

Or are you going to go right up to it and step over into the uncertainty, driven by the possibility of growth? 

This is how we come to take a leap of faith. By choosing to jump.

How do you support your team in taking theirs?

I’d love to hear about your highest leaps, both figuratively and professionally, and how you support your teams in taking theirs. 

— Charlene

What I Can’t Stop Talking About: 

  • Success is born in the messy middle. Leading isn’t just about starting strong and finishing fast. It’s about navigating the murky waters in between. As a leader, you need to do these three things to empower your team to thrive in every phase of the journey.

  • Take a step back to move a hundred steps ahead. This is my go-to catchphrase these days! If you need a reminder, save this image to your desktop!

  • Building a movement. Movements are the best way to successfully transform your organization. And as far as AI is concerned, they’re the only way. Ready to build one? Here’s how.

My Latest: 

  • Catch up on my webinars! You can still review the slides and recordings of my two new webinars. In “Unlocking The Power of Generative AI,” I explain how to set up a generative AI “playground,” three ways to elevate your leadership with step-by-step instructions, and the broad outlines of creating a strategy. In “Developing a Winning Generative AI Strategy for Competitive Advantage,” I walk through the steps needed to create a cohesive AI strategy. 

  • Get updates on my forthcoming book. If you’re reading this, you are the target audience for my new book, Winning with Generative AI. Sign up for updates and early access and join my exclusive LinkedIn launch community.

  • The case for AI optimism. In 25 years, AI will bring positive change across nearly every sector. Don’t take my word for it: That’s the general belief among most of the 17,000 respondents who participated in a recent Google survey on life with AI. As much as we may lament the disruption now, we’re all optimistic for the future it stands to provide—across healthcare, education, and quality of life. In Leading Disruption, I help you find a balance between optimism and reality. 

  • The value-add of AI. I’ve found there are three key ways to drive business value with AI. In my next livestream, I’ll lay out a framework to help you make the case for AI in your organization and provide practical steps for implementation. Join me on Tuesday, August 6 at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET on LinkedIn and Facebook Live for more!

My Upcoming Appearances:

If you want me to speak at an upcoming event or conduct a workshop with your executive team, please drop me a note at [email protected]. 

If this information was helpful, there’s plenty more!

Sign up for updates and early access to my upcoming book, co-authored by Katia Walsh, which is all about creating a winning generative AI strategy.

Join me at Elevate by Future of HR, a 3-week virtual program for next-gen HR leaders.  The program dates are October 8-10, 15-17, 22-24, and registration opens Monday, August 5th. You can sign up here.

Catch my most recent webinars:

“Unlocking The Power of Generative AI.” I explain how to set up a generative AI “playground,” three ways to elevate your leadership with step-by-step instructions, and the broad outlines of creating a strategy. Get the recording and slides here.

“Developing a Winning Generative AI Strategy for Competitive Advantage.” I walk through the steps needed to create a cohesive AI strategy that will last. Get the recording and slides here.

Thank you for subscribing to The Big Gulp Newsletter, which goes out to thousands of disruptors every other week to help you on your disruption journey—plus a curated recommendation list of the things I can’t stop talking about. 

Want more? Check out my weekly publication, Leading Disruption, on LinkedIn.

If you found this note helpful, please forward and share it with someone who needs the inspiration today. If you were forwarded this, please consider subscribing.

Charlene Li

If you found this note helpful, please forward and share it with someone who needs the inspiration today. If you were forwarded this, please consider subscribing.