Leadership and Walking on Grass

Designer Christopher Williams tells a story about an architect who built a cluster of large office buildings that were set on a central green. When construction was completed, the landscape crew asked him where he wanted the pathways between the buildings.

"Not yet," the architect said. "Just plant the grass solidly between the buildings."

This was done, and by late summer pedestrians had worn paths across the lawn, connecting building to building. The paths turned in easy curves rather than right angles, and were sized according to traffic.

In the fall, the architect simply paved the pathways. Not only did the new pathways have a design beauty, they responded directly to user needs.

I like this story. I wonder if leadership is more about letting people find their way of being, and then affirming it? I wonder too if leadership is more about waiting for people to find their direction an d destination, rather than telling them what it is, or ought to be?

Scolty hill (photo) has its own network of paths worn into the patterns of countless feet.

Comments

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I like the wisdom and gentleness in this story, the consideration of needs.