“Be the leader you would follow”
What is it? What does it feel like? How do I get it? How can I show it?
These are all questions many may ask when it comes to the topic of Leadership. The word alone evokes many people to feel good and almost puff out their chest with desire to prove they possess it. It is a word that will go down in history as something great people have been associated with. When most people look at the important people in their lives, they will say many times that they showed such an example of Leadership to me. One of the big problems in our society today is a pure lack of Leadership. We can talk all about great leaders in American History, but much of the talk has to go back decades to really conjure up many of the names of great leaders.
I will explain more why I believe this is, but before I do lets discuss what the true definition of leadership really is. There are so many leadership books out today that I believe sum up many of the aspects of what leadership truly is. The key points in this article are based on nearly 38 years of my own growing and developing personally and professionally in my career as a leader. I have learned from so many people along the way and I truly am blessed to have been associated with so many different kinds of leaders. I believe it gives me a great perspective.
I want to first start by saying leadership is not a thing you acquire. True leadership shows up when it is present. If someone has to tell you they’re the leader, they probably aren’t. Leadership is a quality that is something unmistakable when you see it in someone. Understand clearly that leadership is not only present in humans. If you ever watch animals in the wild, leadership qualities are being exhibited all day long. That is why this is such a powerful subject and really such an important quality for people to possess in their lives. The leader isn’t always the loudest person in the room. The leader isn’t always the one who talks the most. The leader doesn’t have to be the one that gives the meeting, teaches the lesson, or stays at the office the longest each day. The leader many times isn’t the one who is most popular. The leader is clearly defined as the one who makes people better, when he or she is present.
Leadership is action, not position. Leadership is influence, plain and simple. Leaders inspire and set a clear vision where others aren’t able to see. Leaders are human and make mistakes. Leaders positively impact others lives everyday. Leaders understand that what’s important is how you leave people. I also believe firmly that leaders don’t follow the status quo, they walk a walk that is clearly value based. Most great leaders are spiritual in some way and follow a set of guiding principles of right and wrong. They have a moral compass that directs their behaviors. They are people who value integrity in others so much they try and live that value to an almost impossible level.
Leaders are “get things done” people. They aren’t focused on just being busy, they most importantly value being productive. Show me a great leader and I’ll show you a person with a “things to do” list every day. Leaders don’t always follow the crowd, they are comfortable traveling a new path and creating a different way. Leaders are not just thinking of what needs to get done today, they have the next 6-12 months already on their mind. Vision is what a great leader can cast so people can truly see and get excited about where they are going, and want to follow. A leader without vision is simply called a manager.
Don’t get me wrong, we need managers. Managers are the movers and shakers of daily work in the world. Without managers nothing would ever get accomplished. As a country we probably have no less than 100 managers to every leader you will meet. Don’t be insulted if you find you fall into the manager category because your responsibility and work is crucial to the success of every leader’s goals. The difference is if you want to go to the leadership level, you need to work on all the things I am speaking about in this article. Leaders don’t make excuses, they take ownership. Leaders are like musicians on a wonderful keyboard. They get to know the personalities and wants and desires of all of their direct reports and then they work to help each person grow and develop by knowing what inspires each of them.
Please understand that although much of good leadership is inspiration, not perspiration, in my opinion it is essential that the leader has shown success in whatever business he/she is leading. This can’t be a do as I say, not as I have done proposition. Leadership to me is something we as a society and business community need far more of today.
“Always remember that everything rises and falls upon Leadership.”
Lead well,
Greg
