What kind of waves am I creating?

This summer we took a trip to San Diego, and I’ve been reflecting.

We went with some friends, and each of us had one “bucket list” item to check off. Mine was a relaxing beach day—sand, sun, waves, food, drinks—the works. Another wanted to catch a baseball game, which he almost made more exciting by nearly catching a home run ball. We had varying degrees of enthusiasm for a little hike through a beautiful park, and the last item on the list was kayaking along the caves to see sea lions and seals.

Now, here’s the funny part—my husband and I were in a double kayak (don’t they say that people get divorced after being in a double kayak?! ), and as we set off, he mentioned he was starting to feel seasick. The waves weren’t even that bad, according to our guide, but they were just enough to make him a bit uneasy.

We survived, but it got me thinking: waves—whether they’re literal or metaphorical—affect us in ways we don’t always anticipate. They also affect some more than others.

As leaders, we create waves every day. Our energy, our mood, our words—all of these ripple through our teams. Just like the waves in San Diego, which were mild but still enough to make my husband queasy, the energy we bring into the room can either steady the boat or throw things off balance.

So, I’ve been asking myself: What kind of waves am I creating? How do people feel when I walk into a room? When I share updates on metrics, goals, or budgets, am I encouraging a calm sea or stirring up a storm? Our tiny interactions, much like those waves, have the power to impact the people around us in big ways.

Maybe the question to ask is are you leaving the impact you intend to? Are you contributing to a productive, positive environment? Captains are mindful on where they steer their ships, we should be the same with our teams.

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