Tonight, neighborhoods around the world will be bustling hives of activity. Children in costume will dart from house to house in hopes of filling their trick-or-treat bags and experiencing a few family-friendly jump scares. These traditions have been alive in the U.S. for roughly a hundred years, but the practice of donning guises for Halloween is actually much older, dating back more than two millennia to the Celtic celebration of Samhain, a pagan festival marking the beginning of winter. What is it about wearing costumes that we as humans find so irresistible? And how might leaders lean into the practice to expand their strategic vision?
Halloween gives kids (and kids at heart) the chance to imagine themselves as someone new, even if only for a few hours. And in those hours, not only do they give their imaginations free reign, they embrace a sense of play and wonder. Like any game of “dress up,” putting on a costume is an exercise in asking “What if?” and it invites us to explore what’s possible.
It’s an example that we, as leaders, would do well to follow.
Great leadership doesn’t come from holding tightly to what we already know; it comes from being open to what we haven’t yet envisioned. Imagine putting on the “costume” of a visionary who sees years down the road, or a disruptor unafraid to break from convention and challenge the status quo. Might you see yourself—even for a few hours—as your organization’s wise and measured sage, fierce defender, or determined optimist? How does your outlook change from within these roles? How is your decision-making affected? What new understanding do you gain?
If you can’t quite picture yourself in one of those classic roles, try this: Envision a future version of your leadership self, one who has successfully engineered change, adapted through challenges, or motivated a team to take action. What decisions would that leader make today?
Our day-to-day tasks are crucial, yet they rarely provide the space for real strategic insight. To grow, we occasionally need to leave behind the daily grind and entertain the unknown. Doing some mental “leadership cosplay” opens the door to a future that only seems distant. In reality, the minute you start to imagine what kind of leader you want to be, you’ve taken the first and most courageous step in becoming it.
So tonight, as you see kids dressed as Spider-Man, Raygun, or Shrunken Head Bob (some of this year’s most popular costumes), remember to clothe yourself in a vision of the leader you know you can become.
-Bill Adams, Co-Founder & CEO
About: Bill loves people and is passionate about relationships, leadership, and business. He is a serial entrepreneur who has started, owned and sold multiple businesses. As a founder and the current CEO of Leadership Circle, Bill brings thirty years of experience to his clients – the CEOs of major Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, and private equity start-ups. In addition, Bill co- authored “Mastering Leadership” and “Scaling Leadership.” As a trusted advisor, teacher, consultant, and coach, he works with CEOs and top teams in fulfilling the promise of leadership.
