Best Boss Take 5 | Bounce Between the Blue Sky and the Rocky Road

We’re diving deep into the treasures of our Best Boss Bootcamp this month, which is now available as a self-study course. This Bootcamp is a goldmine for anyone aiming to enhance their leadership, managerial, or boss skills by offering essential fundamentals that many of us might have missed out on in our training. The highlight this week is understanding the balance between the “blue sky” and the “rocky road” in your work.

What’s the Blue Sky and Rocky Road?

Blue Sky: It represents the theory or the purpose behind a task or responsibility. It’s the broader view that gives direction and clarity on why a particular task is essential.

Rocky Road: This signifies the actual ground-level work or the granular details of how the work should be executed.

As leaders, it’s crucial to comprehend both these aspects. While some may gravitate towards one, understanding both is vital for comprehensive leadership.

Three Ways to Balance Blue Sky and Rocky Road

  1. Balanced Communication: When assigning tasks or during one-on-one discussions, ensure you convey both the theory (Blue Sky) and the practical execution (Rocky Road). It provides clarity and helps in getting the desired outcome.
  2. Instill Value Reflection: Instill the importance of reflecting on both aspects. Encourage your team to ask the right questions, understanding the ‘why’ (Blue Sky) and the ‘how’ (Rocky Road) of their tasks.
  3. Planning with Perspective: For any new project or activity, create a plan that addresses both the Blue Sky and Rocky Road. Understanding the broader picture and the granular activities ensures effective leadership and motivation.

The concept of balancing the Blue Sky and Rocky Road is just one gem from our Best Boss Bootcamp. If you’re keen to explore more, don’t hesitate to reach out!

About Danny

With over 20 years experience in training and leadership development  — and holding an MBA and an MA in Organizational Development — Danny Ceballos has worked with organizations across the country to strengthen their effectiveness in leading and managing others through supervision+motivation best practices and strategies.