When I was a kid, I lived in a small town.  Every couple of weeks my Dad would tell me to hop in the truck and we would head off to the local Barber Shop.

I hated it.

It always made my neck itch and I usually had to take a bath afterwards.  What kid wants to deal with an itchy neck and a bar of soap?

But I always got the feeling that my Dad had a different view of the Barber Shop.  For him it was a place to shoot the breeze with a few of the locals.  The men would sit around and talk about sports and politics while the Barber dished out the itchy necks to the sons.

Looking back I can see that there was value in the Barber Shop for a leader like my Dad.  Several things come to mind.

1 – It kept him aware of what was relevant in our town.

2 – It was a place for him to share ideas and listen to the opinions of his friends and neighbors.

3 – It gave him an escape from the stresses of the office.

4 – It was a place where he could laugh.

Today’s leaders are no different from my Dad’s generation.  We still need outlets where we can be a part of the conversation.

You may choose a different venue, but the values are still the same.  Find a place where you can listen, learn, and laugh and you will be a better leader.

And if you decide to take your son along, don’t expect him to enjoy it if there is a Barber involved.

i2i,

Randy

Where is your favorite place to hang out with others?