Teaching a 5-year-old to whistle requires a lot of patience. This morning, as I tried to impart this skill to my child, I reflected on the essential steps found on Google:

Use a mirror.
Lick those lips.
Pucker up.
Tuck the tongue.
Blow.
Practice.
Be patient.

Undoubtedly, the last step is crucial, as teaching a child to whistle can be a challenging and, at times, frustrating task for the instructor. As I repeatedly asked myself, “Why is she not getting it?” I recalled a similar challenge I faced while leading my first team.

During the implementation of CI/CD for the first time, our team had to acquire cloud computing skills. In the initial months, mistakes were abundant as we learned by doing. Although I had encountered some of these issues as a cloud engineer, my role was not to solve the problems but to make them visible for the team to figure out solutions.

The innate “Engineer” in me yearned to fix things for the team, but I understood that doing so would hinder their long-term growth. It demanded patience, a quality I had to cultivate to better serve my team.

Leaders must acknowledge that those they lead possess immense potential. Creating an environment where mistakes are not only accepted but encouraged is vital. Allowing individuals the agency to be courageous, to try new things, and to experiment is how leaders foster a team of innovators, not mere followers.

Reflecting on my own learning experiences, I can’t recall how I learned to whistle, nor do I remember anyone teaching me. Some skills simply come naturally.

Today marks Day 1 of teaching my child to whistle. Tomorrow, we try again, and we are excited to embrace the learning journey