Casting Leadership
How Patience, Mastery, and Control Define the Art of Leading
One of my favorite books, A River Runs Through It, is often thought of as a beautiful meditation on family, nature, and the art of fly fishing. But if you look closer, you’ll see it’s a story that’s rich in leadership lessons, especially for those who value mastery, discipline, and the ability to navigate the uncontrollable currents of life. Norman Maclean’s tale of fly fishing in the Montana wilderness isn’t just about fishing; it’s about the patience and precision that leadership demands.
The Four-Count Rhythm of Leadership
In the book, Norman and his brother Paul are taught by their father to fly fish with an almost religious discipline. Their father’s method is precise, deliberate, and steeped in practice. He emphasizes the “four-count rhythm”—a technique that requires focus, repetition, and mastery. The rhythm was as much a spiritual exercise as a physical one.
This four-count rhythm is a perfect metaphor for leadership. As leaders, we need to find our rhythm in managing teams, navigating crises, and guiding projects. It’s not about rushing through decisions but understanding the cadence of actions and reactions. Leadership, like fly fishing, requires a delicate balance of timing, control, and patience.
I often think of this lesson when things get chaotic. Are we casting our ideas and decisions with deliberate precision? Are we allowing the right amount of patience to ensure our strategies land where they need to?
Acceptance and Letting Go
A major theme in the story is the relationship between Norman and his brother Paul. Paul is a gifted fly fisherman—better than Norman in almost every way. But as brilliant as Paul is on the river, he struggles in life, unable to overcome his personal demons. Norman, despite all his love and admiration for his brother, can’t save him.
This part of the book speaks to a deeper leadership challenge: the need to understand what we can and cannot control. In leadership, it’s tempting to think we can fix everything or everyone. The truth is, we can guide, we can teach, but we cannot always change people’s fundamental nature. There’s a moment when we must accept that some things, like Paul’s fate in the story, are beyond our influence.
As leaders, we need to recognize these limits—not as failures, but as reality. Our job is to focus on what we can control, while having the wisdom to know when it’s time to let go.
The Power of Reflection
In A River Runs Through It, the river itself becomes a symbol of life’s journey—the constant flow of time, the turbulence, the moments of serenity. Norman and his father reflect deeply on the river as they cast their lines, finding meaning in its patterns and rhythms.
As leaders, we often get caught up in the day-to-day rapids of work and decision-making. It’s easy to get swept up in the flow, constantly reacting to the latest fires and challenges. But the best leaders know when to step back and reflect. The river teaches us to pause and take in the big picture, to seek clarity in the chaos.
For me, taking a moment to step back and reflect—whether that’s through a walk in nature, journaling, or simply finding a quiet moment—is vital. It helps recalibrate priorities and restore focus. Just as the river is a source of renewal in the book, finding that quiet space to reflect is critical for long-term leadership success.
Mastery is in the Details
One of the standout moments in the book is Norman’s frustration as he tries to perfect his cast. In the fast-moving waters of the canyon, he struggles with the technique of the roll cast, which requires keeping all the line in front of him due to cliffs behind. Paul watches silently for a while before offering a subtle correction: “The fish are out farther… Just a little farther.”
That single piece of advice changed everything for Norman, allowing him to adjust his technique and eventually land a large fish. The lesson here is simple: mastery comes from attention to the smallest details.
In leadership, it’s easy to overlook the little things, especially when we’re focused on bigger goals and visions. But true mastery—whether in fishing or leading—is often found in those subtle, technical adjustments. Are we paying enough attention to the details that make our teams more effective? Are we focusing on the little things that drive big results?
Perseverance Through Difficulty
Fly fishing in A River Runs Through It isn’t easy. The technique is difficult to master, and success requires persistence. Norman spends years refining his skill, and even then, he’s not as good as Paul. But what matters is the effort. Leadership, like fly fishing, involves trial, error, and constant learning.
We don’t always succeed the first time, and that’s okay. What matters is sticking with it—recasting when things go wrong, learning from mistakes, and moving forward.
In leadership, perseverance is essential. Projects will fail, people will stumble, and setbacks will happen. But the leaders who succeed are the ones who keep casting, adjusting their approach until they get it right.
Conclusion
Norman Maclean wrote, “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” For me, this line sums up the journey of leadership. The river of life, business, and leadership is always flowing, carrying us through moments of clarity and confusion, success and failure. The key is to approach it with discipline, patience, and the humility to know what we can and cannot control.
The B:Side Way is about mastering the art of leadership, just like Maclean’s father mastered the art of fly fishing. Both require time, reflection, and a deep understanding of the rhythms that govern our world.