Do YOU Choose the Red Pill or the Blue Pill?
In The Matrix, the main character Neo is offered the choice between a red pill and a blue pill by rebel leader Morpheus. The red pill represents an uncertain future—it would free him from the enslaving control of the machine-generated dream world and allow him to escape into the real world, but living the "truth of reality" is harsher and more difficult. On the other hand, the blue pill represents a beautiful prison—it would lead him back to ignorance, living in confined comfort without want or fear within the simulated reality of the Matrix. As described by Morpheus: "You take the blue pill...the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill...you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes." Neo chooses the red pill and joins the rebellion.
Maybe it is my Industrial Engineering background...or just who I am at the core of my being....but I have always gravitated towards and been an advocate for "living the truth of reality". This has been a blessing and a curse for me over my life and career. Having said that...I also believe that you can't truly grow...learn...and leave things in better shape than you found them until you deal with the harsh realities that no one else has wanted to deal with. I also believe our teams know when things aren't right and as leaders we sometimes go out of our way to paint rosy pictures which can erode our credibility.
My Wonderland
The best example of what Morpheus talks about in terms of "taking the red pill and seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes" was when I was with Keane in 2005. I was bright eyed and ready to take on the world and I told this was a GREAT opportunity. We had signed a contract with our first Canadian customer and we were opening a new office which would also support our largest US customer. There were some "challenges" with the engagement with the client over the past year but things were up and running. ALL I had to do was come in and "smooth it over". I was naïve and I believed it...this was MY MOMENT to shine...and I dreamed of how this would catapult my career.
As it turns out...things were more messed up than I was sold by those who took the "blue pill" which I outlined my blog post 5 Things We Can Learn From Failure . In hind sight...it was the perfect example of taking the red pill...saving the business...and...unfortunately...the hero didn't make it in the end.
The leadership team at the time had NO idea about the problems on the ground and I was left to find out in very harsh...difficult ways what we were up against. Some of the "just smooth it over with the client issues were"...
Breach of contract
Employees that were actively sabotaging the engagement
Executing to a contract that ensured we couldn't let any employees go AND we were expected to deliver cost savings
An aggressive sales growth number even though we weren't delivering to the client's satisfaction/sla's
In the end...through the help and support of some AMAZING people...I put on my "big girl pants" and waded through reality one step at a time. It is also incredibly sad (and almost amusing now) how many other people who were sent in to "save me" over the course of that year who literally fell off their "12 step program" and were subsequently fired.
Is There a Balance Between the Red Pill & Blue Pill or is it Absolute?
I have to admit that I have struggled with the balance between how much reality leadership...teammates...and clients need to hear versus selling a version of of the story that is pure fiction (the emperor has no clothes). I do believe that there is a way to position the truth of a situation (even if it isn't what others want to hear) AND project an air of confidence that it will all be ok if we pull together...buckle down...commit to a plan and GO!
As YOU run towards the fire...keep in mind that YOU need to...
Be a Part of the Solution. Part of the responsibility of taking the "red pill" is that YOU have to join the rebellion and "fight" along side your teammates to save the day. You don't just get to see the truth...call it out...complain...and walk away.
Be Prepared to Make (and live with) Tough Decisions. As the saying goes "if it was easy...anyone could do it". It takes courage to finally admit what no one else could...to fix something that everyone else was "hoping" would simply "be ok". This may mean making tough choices that are unpopular or unpalatable but in the end YOU have to stand up to what YOU know is right.
Be The Leader YOU Would Want to Follow. I have always been amazed and impressed by how teams pull together once YOU are transparent about the hill you have to climb. How YOU do this is key because keeping yourself (and others) motivated through rough patches is what defines a high performance team. Your realism has to be tempered with positivity that the goal can be accomplished.
Rally Around the Vision. Even though the path to success may be fraught with challenges and tough decisions it is important to not lose sight of the vision you are shooting for. Rallying the team...leadership and clients around what you are building can be the inspiring call to action that achieves more than YOU thought possible...once YOU have a realistic path to get there.
In Closing...
I'm sure we can all think of situations in our life and career where we chose to believe that things were better than we knew they were. We may even have gotten away with it with no repercussions. Sometimes a little blissful ignorance goes a long way.
Having said that...my experience is that...
It's hardly ever popular to be the one showing up with the "red pill" view of the world. I will say that for all the times I have done it...once you rip off the band aid...create the call to action...set a path and enlist the help of others....things will improve in the end. I have never been thanked for being the one speaking the truth about reality...but I wouldn't have it any other way.
How about YOU?
Leadership Questions of the Week for YOU:
Can YOU think of some recent scenarios (personal or professional) where YOU "took the blue pill"? How did it work out and could you have benefitted from digging a little deeper into "reality" sooner?
Do you often find yourself more of a "blue pill" person or a "red pill person"? Why do your think that is and what have been the benefits in your life and career?
What is YOUR advice for others to balance reality with "believing whatever they want to believe"? Do you have any edits or additions to the points above?
Thanks for reading and remember...YOU make a difference!
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