Lessons from the fog

A few months back I was on my way to do a photo shoot at a location I enjoy– the beach. 

 

On this day, a dense fog had set in. While a heavy beach fog is not unusual, its appearance at a mid-afternoon shoot caught me off guard.

 

Visibility on the beach was significantly diminished, but the sunlight that peeked in through the clouds made for some fascinating shots. The combination of the fog and piercing light gave me a new and much different perspective than I had ever experienced. It was truly memorable.

 

My approach that day to the photoshoot could have been one defined by frustrations over elements beyond my control. In photography, that is a common occurrence. One second you are ready for a shot, and 30 seconds later, the lighting changes or some other issue happens that momentarily alters your ability to take the photograph.

 

In photography, you can wait it out and make the necessary adjustments. I easily could have allowed the fog to cause me to throw in the towel and cancel the appointment, instead, I seized the opportunity to take some amazing photographs that I otherwise would not have been able to capture.

 

Life works this way, too. Seldom does everything go according to plan all the time. Life happens. And when it does, you can either adjust and make the best of it, or you can be overcome by it.

 

There will be seasons when you find yourself in a fog as a leader. Call it a funk. Call it what you will, but you know what I’m talking about.

 

I must confess that I have been in a fog for several months.

 

Writing has always been a natural talent for me. Words have always flowed freely, and any complaints from editors have centered around too many words, not too few. But for the past few months, I have found myself in a fog where my struggle was not figuring out what to do about too many words, but what to do about none.

 

If you are in a fog right now, let me share a few lessons I’ve learned. 

 

Don’t panic

Fog is a natural weather phenomenon. 

 

In leadership, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in a fog. It happens. But when it does, that’s not the time to panic, it’s a time to see your surroundings from a different perspective and draw on your leadership instincts to get through it.

 

Trust the process. The fog won’t last forever, but it will give you time to learn new things about your surroundings and yourself.

 

Learn from it

Before the photo shoot, I was confident about my camera setting. I had done this before. But the fog changed everything. When you find yourself in a fog, you will draw from a different or seldom-used skill set to navigate your way. Embrace it and refine it.

 

From a leadership perspective, we don’t like being in a fog. But it’s from the time you spend in the fog that you learn a lot about yourself and what you are capable of. Don’t despise the fog, learn from it and be a better leader for it.

 

Be patient

Here’s what I know – the fog doesn’t last forever. And while we don’t like being in one, the lesson here is simple – be patient. The fog will lift. You will come through it.

 

©2024 Doug Dickerson. Doug Dickerson writes and speaks on the topic of leadership and personal growth. Read more at Dougdickerson.net.