Agribusiness Leadership provides the necessary tools to unveil the fundamental principles of
Empowered Leaders that Trust themselves and the relationships they lead and leaders who are curious to discover who they are and who they lead.
Most leaders I work with are in the thick of it. They’re managing crises, putting out fires, and trying to motivate teams who seem stuck, distracted, or disinterested.
But when you’re knee-deep in the waves with everyone else, it’s nearly impossible to lead.
That’s where the lifeguard chair comes in.
Not a throne.
Not a title.
Not a reward.
It’s a position—not of power, but of perspective.
In my younger years, I spent a few summers as a lifeguard. And I always preferred working at pools that had a lifeguard chair.
Why?
Because from up there, I could see everything—the depth, the corners, the small conflicts before they turned into something bigger.
And people could hear my whistle better too.
That higher position gave me more than just a view—it gave me presence.
Now, years later, I see leadership the same way:
You don’t wait for calm to lead with clarity.
You create calm by leading with clarity.
A lifeguard doesn’t get involved in every splash or disagreement in the water. From that chair, they can see clearly. They don’t take sides. They stay grounded in what matters: keeping people safe and aware.
Leadership often calls for the same.
It’s easy to get caught in emotions, urgency, or the pull to rescue. But great leadership requires a neutral position—one that removes ego, assumptions, and the need to be right.
Neutral doesn’t mean passive.
It means grounded. Observant. Present.
And above all:
It means choosing clarity—because clarity creates calm.
You don’t land in the chair by accident. A lifeguard climbs up there on purpose, every day. It’s not comfortable. It requires vigilance. But it’s chosen.
Leadership, too, is a position we choose.
It’s not just reacting. It’s seeing ahead, choosing how to respond, and holding space for others. That requires intention.
You don’t wait for calm to lead with clarity.
You create calm by leading with clarity.
And that changes everything.
From the chair, a lifeguard can swivel, scan the horizon, and move quickly when needed. They don’t shout orders for the sake of control. They stay ready—anchored in purpose, but able to pivot.
This is leadership at its best:
Anchored, aware, and agile.
We don’t lead well by being everywhere at once.
We lead well by climbing higher—not above others, but above the noise.
From that place, we see what matters most.
We can step in when needed.
We can choose stillness when needed.
Even in the chaos:
We can create calm by leading with clarity.
Most leaders operate transactionally—managing tasks, checking boxes, solving problems as they arise.
But transformational leadership happens when you choose to stay in the chair.
That higher position lets you:
If you’re always down in the water, you’re working in the business.
The lifeguard chair? That’s where you work on the business.
And that’s where transformation begins—when you stop reacting and start creating calm through clarity.
The lifeguard chair gives you perspective—but it’s not a place to hide.
There are moments when great leadership means climbing down.
Not to take over, but to connect.
To coach.
To walk alongside.
That’s how trust is built.
Your willingness to come down from the chair shows your team that you see them. That you believe in them. That you trust them to lead in their space.
The trust you place in your team—especially your managers—speaks louder than any directive you give.
It shows that leadership isn’t about watching from above.
It’s about knowing when to rise, and when to walk beside.
“Transactional leadership reacts.
Transformational leadership rises.”
– Arlen Motz
The lifeguard chair isn’t a position of status.
It’s a position of responsibility.
A leader who sits there doesn’t dominate—they serve with intention, clarity, and calm.
So here’s the question for you:
Are you leading from the chair, the deck, or in the pool?
Only one of those gives you the perspective to lead with clarity—
and the clarity to create calm.
