When I first came to Jamaica, I was a young boy, barely able to see over the steering wheel. I sat in the backseat and watched my father navigate through the twists and turns of his island home. He would point out landmarks, always drive by his childhood home, take us around town, give a history of the island, and most importantly, give his story.
Every few years, I had the opportunity to travel home to Jamaica with my father. He regularly visited his mom while she was alive, and I often went along on those trips. As a teenager, I remember being taught how to drive the stick shift on my cousin's van. Maneuvering the clutch while shifting gears from the steering column was something I’ve never experienced to this day.
When I came of age, I would ask my dad to drive on the Jamaican roads. Now, if you’ve ever been to Jamaica, you understand this is no small task with narrow roads, high-speed taxis, blind overtaking, and treacherous potholes that could damage your rental! Watching my dad from childhood made me aware of the dangers of driving in Jamaica, but through his example, I had confidence I’d be able to handle it.
When he turned over the keys and I got in on the right-hand side, he got in the passenger seat. He became my navigator, guiding me in which direction to go, warning me of potholes ahead, and using his voice to coach me. Once he gave me the keys, he never reached for the wheel. He allowed me to hit some potholes and have other drivers blow their horns in frustration, but he remained calm and supportive, and in no time, I was tearing around corners just like my dad.
This week, I’ve returned to his home to bury my maternal grandfather. And my navigator and coach isn’t with me. This is the first time I’m having to navigate this island without him and the first time I have to find my own way. But what this experience has taught me is that the leadership of my father made room for me to drive confidently alone. He showed me how to do it, we did it together, and now I’m doing it by myself with everything he gave me.
This is a blueprint for all leaders. Some wait too long to get into the passenger seat and die behind the wheel, causing catastrophic casualties all around them. My father moved to the passenger seat, and while his presence is missing, our forward progress doesn’t stop because he gave me the keys while he was alive.
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