I’m back in Denver this week for the IEEE T&D conference learning more about the industry I cut my professional teeth on.  I ran into a large number of former colleagues from a few different companies and a slug of industry vendors.

I was watching local news this morning, (which I never do when I travel… or when I’m at home for that matter) but I heard a new term from the traffic reporter called the “curiosity delay”.  There was an accident on I-70 and the extra 20 minutes estimated on the road was called a curiosity delay.  I’ve been subject to this phenomena before but never called it that.

In a strange twist of fate, I ran into someone I’d never met before at the opening reception who set up a reunion with my first (and second) industry bosses (from 30 years ago).  It was a nice setting at the Opera House with bourbon tasting, good conversation and a new age string quartet.

The moment my old boss came around the corner, he took a minute with his own curiosity delay and then cracked a big smile, bent his knees a little bit and mumbled, “oh shit!”

We caught up on family quickly but I knew he was there to entertain clients so we cut it short.

Reflecting afterward. I was reminded of some of his management mannerisms that I had unknowingly mimicked.  Although he was and continues to be in a leadership role, his irreverence was part of his charm…and part of my modus operandi.

Leadership Lesson:  Be watchful who you spend your time with.  You may become a version of them.

Have a blessed weekend!