Angry Bird

“What’s all over your car?” Peter yelled as we rushed out of the house on the way to Mass. It appeared as if somewhere along my travels I inadvertently parked under the resting spot of the entire migration of Capistrano swans. No big deal. I drove through the nearby car wash and $5.50 later, it was good as new. The next day, I came out to find the same thing, actually worse. As I got in my car, scratching my head to remember where I might have parked since my car wash, a thump hit the passenger side window. I thought one of the kids threw a ball. Then another thump. A small brown bird was kamikazeing into my car and with every thump, leaving “his mark” all over the place. Terrified that I was in a remake of a Hitchcock film, I peeled out of the driveway. A simple google search revealed that during nesting season, some birds may see their reflection in a window and consider it an enemy, continually attacking it to protect their nest. The internet promised the bird would not hurt itself and in a few weeks’ time, the self-defense mechanism would subside. In the meantime, it also suggested I invest in a tarp.

I could not help but relate my avian attack to some of the team dynamics I observe in my work and if I am honest, in my own leadership. How often do I try to protect my nest by attacking the wrong target, or better yet, a non-target? How often do I go after the enemy, when it’s really catching a glimpse in the mirror that I do not like? How many times do I need to hit the glass wall and leave a mess, before I realize I have actually been neglecting the nest in my supposed pursuit of its protection? Thankfully for my car, nesting lasts only a few weeks. Can I say the same for my leadership?