I have often heard the sayings, “Stay in your lane,” or “That’s not my lane.” While well-intentioned, I think that they are often used as an excuse not to put forth an idea or to shut down collaboration.
Lanes exist so that people can effectively navigate without collisions. If there were no separation of responsibilities, it could be as chaotic as a freeway without the stripes. However, even interstates have merge ramps, designed to allow people to cross lanes and travel on a path besides their original one.
The same principle applies in organizations. People need to know when to merge and do so safely, but staying exclusively in one lane isn’t optimal either. Just like on the highway, give ample notice that you’re about to merge and respect the drivers of the lane you’re merging into, but occasionally insert yourself into the broader flow.
Thanks, Stephanie!
