Restoration Leadership: Refining What Still Has Value

In restoration, you learn that progress can come from repairing and refurbishing what already exists. We are often tempted to make big changes in business for the betterment of an organization, without considering what is worth maintaining. In my experience over the years restoring antique airplanes, I’ve recognized parallels between restoration and business leadership that have offered lessons in perspective and patience. Consider the following:

• Context Shapes Decision-Making

Every plane is different than the one before, shaped by its history, quirks and condition. Each plane tells its own story. Before you can restore a plane, several pieces of context are crucial including what it was originally designed to do, where it’s been stored, how it was used and what is required to give it new life.

Similarly in business, there is no one-size-fits-all way to lead an organization. A business’s unique history, team members, structures, customers, priorities and goals inform every single decision a leader makes. Before tackling a problem, leaders should consider the context that impacts the decision. Consult team members, consider how a decision might aid or disrupt the business and weigh the pros and cons. Doing so will allow leaders to make more informed decisions.

• Goals Guide Process

Restoring an airplane for display is a much different process than restoring one for flight. For a plane to fly, it must meet a strict set of safety and technical standards, whereas aesthetics and historical accuracy are most important in a restoration meant for display. Business strategy works in a similar way.

A leader who is driven by positioning a business for a sale and a leader focused on organic growth will likely have very different approaches to decision making. Identifying clear goals helps inform the steps a team can take to achieve them. Without clearly defined goals, leaders can find themselves making decisions that do not serve their business’s mission.

• Resourcefulness vs Resources

Restoration teaches a restorer the value of using what they already have in front of them. An antique plane may require some modernization, but the hope is to save as much as possible from the original aircraft. Business leaders can learn a bit from this mindset.

In business, it is often tempting to jump on the latest trend or new tech tool without considering how a business’s current resources can help achieve the same or a similar outcome. Customer relationship management systems (CRMs) are a great example as they can do more than manage interactions with customers. The data they offer can show areas for growth, help different departments collaborate and assist in strategic planning. The key for business leaders is to consider how they can better leverage their existing technology and resources before seeking out new, more expensive options.

Leadership, like restoration, is about balance and vision. Leaders who adapt a restorer’s mindset will benefit from a perspective that prioritizes the business’s goals and how to feasibly achieve them. Whether restoring an antique plan or growing a business, there is success in honoring what has already been built, preserving as much as possible and letting go of anything that does not advance the goal.