Aim to Be a Zero

Several years ago, I had an opportunity to hear Chris Hadfield, one of Canada’s first astronauts, talk at a conference. Chris has gone to space three times, the last time as commander of the International Space Station in 2012/13. He’s a riveting speaker who, while very accomplished, comes across with humility and great perspective.

I recently finished his autobiography, “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth” and really enjoyed it. While there’s a lot of good insights and interesting stories in it, there was one piece of advice that I thought had a lot of application to all our lives and I wanted to share and perhaps expound on it a little here.

When travelling to space, Chris describes how astronauts view each other as being a -1, a 0 or a +1, referring to whether they detract, add or are a relatively neutral contributor to the mission.

Applying this to our own worlds, I think all of us can readily come up with a -1 in our lives… someone who might come in making all sorts of demands or has a habit of barking out instructions without being fully aware of the situation or all the facts. They might have an over-inflated sense of importance and people cannot wait to be away from them… admittedly, something that’s difficult to do in space, much less a work setting when you’re on the same team or department.

Conversely, a +1 is what most of us probably want to be. It’s someone whose very presence makes any situation, and ultimately the outcome, better. They bring knowledge, confidence and actively support those around them. They are, in short, someone you want to be with because they lift everyone up. The irony, however, is that actively trying to be a +1 can actually lead to your becoming just the opposite because you’re trying too hard or believe that you’ve got to be the most important person in the room. It’s therefore best, Chris argues – and I’d agree – to try and be a 0.

This is hopefully obvious by now but being a zero should not be seen as a bad thing. This is true on the International Space Station and in our everyday lives. A 0 is typically someone who has a sense of humility about themselves but who is competent and aims to make small but positive contributions to the overall effort. They are there when needed and able to contribute in a myriad of ways both large and small. And the irony is that, if your aim is to be that steady and reliable colleague, the impact you will likely have is greater than what you may realize or intend.

I am reminded of those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the U.S. government’s highest and most prestigious military decoration. When I’ve heard the Medal winners speak of what earned them this recognition, they often have a sense of humility and of just doing their duty. Few, if any, of the recipients likely set out to be recognized; rather, they found themselves in a situation where their actions and bravery made a substantial difference to those around them. They likely would describe themselves as “zeros” in the context of this post.

An interesting extension of Colonel Hadfield’s recommendation is that how we are scored is determined not by us but by how we are perceived by others. The blowhard who comes into the room shouting that “I am the greatest” and that “you really should be doing this” probably sees themselves as this amazing leader while those around them likely roll their eyes wonder how long before they will leave. However, for those just going about their lives with good intentions and helping out wherever possible, they are often blind to the positive impact we are having to those around us.

Last week, I had lunch with a gentleman whose division I worked in for over 10 years. While we never formally had a mentor/mentee relationship, he still taught me a lot about being not only a good and effective leader but how to be a good person. He’s a great example of a servant leader and one I still look to today for guidance. And, true to form, as we were getting ready to leave, he asked me if there was anything he could do to help me.

I smiled and said that I just appreciated these opportunities to get together and catch up. However, I decided to go on and tell him what I just shared with you. After I was done telling him what a great example he was – and still is – for me he sat there for a few moments and then quietly said “thank you.” He commented that you often do not realize the impact you are having on those around you and that you can only hope that you’re making a difference in people’s lives. It was a great reminder that we should intentionally tell others how much we appreciate them and what a positive influence they have on us rather than assume that they already know or that it’ll be embarrassing or awkward. I suspect that we often see ourselves as being a zero when, in truth, we’re a +1.

Of course, the real trick is to accept these kinds of compliments, be thankful for the opportunity to have a glimpse that you’re making a difference, and then to go right back to aiming to be a zero.

Know that I’m pulling for you!