The Magic of Unplugging: Universal Thoughts on Leadership
by Patty Fischer
After finishing a
very busy first year as an Assistant Principal, I took advantage of the 4th
of July holiday week to complete a much-needed “reboot.” Leaving my laptop
behind, my daughter and I escaped to Universal
Studios and Islands of Adventure in
Orlando, Florida to spend priceless time
together before she pursues her dreams at the University of South Carolina this
fall.
It was much easier to navigate the parks with a light load,
so I frequently left my cell phone behind at the hotel. While unplugged, I had the opportunity to make
simple observations relative to life…and leadership.
We spent four days exploring the two parks and making great
memories—especially in my daughter’s favorite parts of the parks – Harry Potter World and Diagon Alley. It was hotter in July than
“a place that cannot be named,” and at
times we were most uncomfortable!
The heat wasn’t the only obstacle—smart packing for a successful
day in the park was quite a puzzle. It was important to be as unencumbered as
possible, with mandatory metal detection scanning and limits on what could be taken
on the rides. Passes for the park and express ride passes had to be easily
accessible all day. These passes were small and made with flimsy paper. They become
rather worn over a series of days--not to mention sweaty and limp. It turns
out, even the running pack cinched around my waist was too much of a hassle.
Through observation of more seasoned ticket holders, I
determined that the best way to travel the parks was to purchase a lanyard with
a clear nametag holder, organizing the passes strategically on either side of
the nametag—with room for a driver’s license, card, or cash too.
Most of the Universal employees we encountered either really
liked their job, or they were good at pretending! They stayed cleverly in character,
smiled frequently, and cheered us when we returned from a thrilling ride.
Not everyone was happy at Universal though. The heat, the
crowds, and the stress took its toll on several families. Some of the tears and
frustrations occurred when little Harry Potter fans tried to use their wands to
make “magical” things happen with the interactive exhibits. The wands and the
sensors in the exhibits didn’t always “connect.” In two such cases, the dad of
the potential magician took over and did the activity for the child, which
resulted in either tears, anger, or extreme disappointment for the child.
The theme parks were filled with people in all stages of physical
ability and awareness. There were people with children, people without
children, infants in strollers, and people in wheelchairs. There were people
who knew exactly where they were going, and others who would gather their
groups in the middle of a street. Navigating the theme parks was cumbersome and
frustrating at times.
We took frequent breaks to refresh ourselves. Going to and
from the hotel, we encountered several different water taxi drivers, but the
most memorable drivers were the ones that tried to make a connection with
passengers--talking or telling jokes.
Even though this was supposed to be a trip for recharging, I
couldn’t help but take note of how my experiences at Universal and Islands of
Adventure aligned with my current leadership position. I will use these
experiences as my guide in the next school year.
·
Unplug
from your distractions – There is great value in “plugging into” the people
and activities in your physical location.
·
Get a
Lanyard – Be observant of what works well for others and see if it works
for you too.
·
Employ people
who love what they do, play well as a team, and cheer others on.
·
Encourage
independence and autonomy in those people you encounter who are ready to make
“magical” things happen.
·
Be aware of
others and your surroundings. Move over and let those who are ready to move
faster than you the opportunity to do just that.
·
Be
prepared to assist those employees in the “Stroller” or “Wheelchair” stage
of their career. It will take these employees longer to navigate their jobs,
and they will need more assistance and encouragement. They might inadvertently
make the jobs of others more difficult or time consuming. Have a plan in place to help everyone be
successful!
·
Keep it
100 - Make jokes, have fun, build relationships; be genuine.
·
Make every day Magical!
