My mind was somewhere else.  I was thinking about my upcoming meeting, going through a number of the issues that needed to be addressed; then it happened…

Sure, I was paying attention to the traffic around me.  I’m a good driver.  I’ve never had an at-fault accident.  However, I have one little weakness – I tend to speed.  It’s not as bad as it used to be, but it’s not as good as it could be.

In fact, if truth be told, a couple of decades ago I lost my license for a short period of time because of speeding.  That particular story is for another article at another time though.  I have always been driven by a certain sense of urgency, and suffer from a certain degree of impatience.  This can be perceived as a quality that contributes to accomplishment and achievement, or a weakness that gets me in trouble.  This day it would be the latter.

I came roaring up the three lane hill at a speed which could have been loosely perceived as acceptable in normal circumstances.  But what I didn’t notice was the obvious construction speed zone signs.

Toward the top of the hill traffic began to significantly slow down in all lanes, even in the fast lane in which I was now not going as fast as I wanted.  Things really slowed down a little further up the road when everyone could see the police car at the side of the road that had pulled over an unfortunate driver.

That’s when it all happened:  traffic was slowing down, I noticed the police car at the side of the road, and then before I could put all the pieces together she was right there in front of me.  She came from I know not where, but there she was larger than life.  She had somehow charged across all three lanes and was now standing authoritatively in the middle of my lane directly in front of me.  She aggressively pointed at me and with very few gestures effectively communicated what I was supposed to do – pull over.

I obliged.

I had been caught in her speeding web.  When she came over to my vehicle I was anticipating, by our introduction in the fast lane, to be confronted by a female police officer who was half peace officer, half raging bull.  However, she was as sweet as a peach.

Apparently her partner had clocked me at 85 KM in a 50 KM zone.  She explained to me my infraction and went through all the formalities.  I immediately confessed my guilt and offered apologies.  We ended up chatting and I affirmed her exceptional courage to leap in front of speeding traffic, and her bold and assertive communication which effectively and efficiently informed me of the appropriate action I needed to take.

Wow – I was impressed.

In her work there was no room for timidity.

This is a great example of a critical leadership principle:  in leadership there is no room for timidity.  Leaders cannot afford to be timid.

Timidity is defined as being easily frightened or upset, shyness, lacking self-assurance, courage or bravery.  Leaders cannot be timid – period.

Imagine what would happen to that police officer if she tip-toed into traffic and then timidly requested I sort-of move over to the, you-know, side of the road, sort-of over there, if-you-know-what-I-mean, kinda?

She wouldn’t last long would she?  Neither do leaders who allow themselves to suffer from timidity.

Leaders must be bold, strong, courageous and assertive.  And, that’s a choice just like being shy, and fearful is.  Fear is not the problem – every leader has to deal with fear.  Being fear’ful’ is a problem: it’s letting the fear stop you.  Cowardice is caving in to fear, courage is moving forward in the face of fear.

I have no doubt that police officer was afraid the first time she jumped in front of traffic, but she has chosen to overcome her fear and is now a bold, effective leader.  I certainly made sure I followed her instructions.

Let’s take a lesson from my favourite female RCMP officer:  Be bold – in leadership there is no room for timidity.