A few weeks back I was in a minor accident…extremely minor. On my way to baseball practice I crossed paths with another F-250…unfortunately the road wasn’t big enough for the both of us. As we rapidly approached each other we made the lane a big as we could but it was pointless. As soon as we passed one another there was a deafening noise and explosion of glass. We had managed to miss everything but our mirrors. My driver side mirror no longer existed.

We both jumped out and shared a relieved laugh and said something like “Thank goodness we weren’t driving Chevy’s!” I mounted my trusty stead and motored on my way never realizing how important my mirror was to arriving safely at my destination.

Many times it takes loosing something before we realize how valuable that something is. For me, I didn’t feel safe driving without the critical vantage point my mirror provided. I was skittish and drove erratically. I never felt comfortable until the objects once again were closer than they appeared.

The time without my mirror made me realize two extremely valuable uses of mirrors that I believe also apply to leadership.

1. Your mirror helps you see where you have just come from.
2. Your mirror helps you avoid approaching dangers.

Leaders need to practice looking in their rear view mirrors more often. If you are a leader like me you want to see progress and you want to see it every day. It is so easy to run so far out in front of your team that you end up running alone. Once you are alone…you are no longer leading. By putting your own internal mirror to work it will help you become a better leader.

Here’s the application: By checking your mirror you are able to see the path of your journey. Was that the best path? Was it the safest? Who did you run over to get where you are? Did you leave someone standing on the side of the road? Could you travel the same path and achieve the same results? So much can be learned from taking a moment to just observe where you have just come from. I love history. I believe history is a great teacher. A quote that has stuck with me for years come from George Santayana which says, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed t repeat it.” By taking a peek in your mirror, even for a brief moment, you will learn a tremendous amount that will make you better in the future.

Not only does your mirror provide a historical reference, but it also serves as an early warning system. Most leaders are great at seeing the curves, bumps and cliffs in-front-of them. However, many struggle at seeing those that are nipping at their heals or about to merge right into their path. Leaders who never take in the entire 360 degree view are asking for trouble. Just as when driving, you need to keep your eyes mostly on the road in front of you…mostly. The great drivers…the great defensive drivers…are frequently peering into their mirrors to see the full picture and to make sure they are steering away from any trouble.

Please don’t get me wrong…leadership is execution…It is looking forward. It is your responsibility to see the road in front of you and to know where you are heading. However, the best leaders manage to see in all directions…especially behind you. That is what makes a truly exceptional leader.

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