Well, it’s been a week hasn’t it?

The title of this post is from an old song we used to sing as kids (and it also shows up in various lyrics, game controllers and other places), where we would alternate between squats, jumps and spins. It was fun.

But it’s also quite apt for this week, for those of us in America it was election day, and after a rather contentious 2 years (that felt like 4) of campaigns, flaming rhetoric and social media carnage, the country has spoken and in January we will see a new administration. Every change like this brings with it many emotions, and this one does feel a little more than usual. I’ll be making no commentary further on this, I have my own thoughts but also believe in the power of democracy and all that comes with that.

And then I have a new job, and with that comes it’s own set of anxieties, excitement and uncertainty. While at Microsoft we used to call this being “uncomfortably excited” meaning that we were excited, but in a nervous way. But I am a fan of being nervous, it shows you care. If you’re nervous, you want a good outcome, you want to win something, you desire success and it concerns you that it might not happen.

I embrace the feeling, it needs to be harnessed, but it is energizing.

I’m also excited to re-enter a multi-year cycle after enjoying some wildly different experiences in ways and locations that are very foreign to me. I learned, I failed and I came back better with some new approaches and a deeper appreciation for the importance of leadership.

Leadership is many things and comes in many guises, scenarios and styles, but the key ones for me personally are clarity, transparency, honesty and accountability. If you can behave in ways that align to these, I believe anyone can show leadership. Leadership is not being a manager, in fact for me hierarchy is helpful for only two things: administrivia and alignment of common outcomes. Where hierarchy gets in the way is when it is either used to drive behaviors, or used as a way to avoid something.

As I embark on this new journey, I know I will be challenged. I have some new disciplines to learn about in depth, there is team level aggregation and commonality to be established, and a shift in broader influence models, some positive, some will be challenging, and some will be lost which will drive a grief cycle. But I’m excited and believe in the charter.

I will close out by saying to all the people I know and call friends, this week was tough for some of you, there will be some hard moments in the coming months and years, we are here for you and together we are stronger than any politics or politicians.

Kia Kaha.