Cultivating Your Leadership Courage by Being Yourself– The Parable of the Suburban Waver

Between 6:45 and 7:45 AM, a man in his 70s walks the main thoroughfare near my home. This segment of road connects the rural fairgrounds to a suburban highway populated by mediocre chain restaurants, car dealerships, and supermarkets. From one end of this thoroughfare to the other is five miles–  a good trek for anybody, of any age. 

But what makes this man peculiar is that he waves at every car that passes by. It’s not a lukewarm greeting, but a vertical stretching of his arms, punctuated by a smile.  His vocabulary of waves, smiles and greetings is extensive. My favorite is the two-handed arm raise that he lowers down while extending two fingers, directly pointing at the driver – and his lips yelling, “Good morning.” 

The energy is contagious. Drivers smile and wave back. It’s impossible not to at this point.

His practice of waving has been going on for years. Now,  drivers  expect to see him every morning. They honk, slow down, and  acknowledge the Waver to reciprocate. On the few days the Waver doesn’t walk, it’s noticeable. On those days, the part of the world I live in seems different– there’s something absent and its visceral. Once, I saw the Waver at a local coffee shop, and witnessed his brand of celebrity in action. All patrons paused, gawked attentively at the barista, and eavesdropped. She asked him what we all wanted to know, “Are you the guy who waves at everyone in the morning?”

“Yep.” 

And that was it. He smiled, paid for his coffee and left.  It was  perfect.. 

What I love most is that the Waver’s social media platform is simple. It’s a sidewalk and a busy street. That’s it.  Observing the Waver for nearly ten years, here are a few insights I’ve gleaned:

1. Conjure the Courage to Be You, No Matter What: Waving 100s of times per hour is both eccentric and generous.  There’s no guarantee anybody will wave back or if if will help your reputation. In the early days of his practice, he may have been frustrated and drivers may have perceived him as a kook. Going into the world to perform your personal work takes real courage– even if one’s reputation takes a negative shot initially. 
2. Consistency and Persistence Pays Off:  Because the Waver consistently shows up, he has led people to expect that small shot of joy every day, at those times.  Had he done it on some random Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, the result wouldn’t  be the same.  The same would be true if he didn’t persist through storms or the scalding Tennessee Sun.
3. It's Done in Good Faith: Based on the Waver’s response in the coffee shop, he’s waving to people and spreading positivity because it’s a good thing to do. He knows people like to be seen and acknowledged. He’s not looking for fame or recognition, he just wants the world to have a great day. That’s a task worth waking up for. 

I'm going to finish with a question:  What's your personal leadership wave to the world?  For me, it's posting this blog, creating content and coaching .If you’re an introverted leader wanting the courage to be yourself within your organization, let’s connect. 

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