When I first ventured into
the private sector corporate world, I was living the dream. As the years
started flying by, it did not take long before I became a little confused. As I
prepared to promote in the old system, I was told how I needed to change if I
ever wanted to lead people. I needed to act like a leader. It seemed I was too
close to those around me and therefore unable to discipline them. I felt my
bosses did not notice how my shift was the most cohesive, highly productive in
the company and how I knew each member of the department personally and cared
for them. How could I be wrong? The guys would do anything I asked of them
because they knew I had their best interest in mind. I did not know or
understand that I was learning/practicing a form of leadership. I was just
being me. It still somehow escapes me that people will follow my visions. I am
humbled. I tell you this, not to boast, but rather make a point,
“Leadership is how to be, not how to do” ~ Frances Hesselbein
One statement new employees
seem to always make is “I want to be in a department that has potential for
advancement”. This is coming from a rookie that hasn’t worked a day yet. You
have to ask yourself, “Why do you want to be in charge?” Do you really have an
understanding of the responsibility associated with being the leader? Those
that follow you are directly impacted by your vision and influence. The allure
of leadership is somehow mixed up with the notion that with it comes power. The
reality is that with leadership comes great responsibility, usually not seen or
taught in classrooms. Personal leadership influences organizations with
associations to the culture, another topic for discussion later…
Servant leadership is the style du jour. ”I feel my time has come.” I don’t have to change or
act to fit into a now recognizable style. I have learned a lot from my past
leaders, mostly how I was not like them, and that’s OK with me. I really did
learn a lot. I watched the impact that the leaders had on those around me. The
old style was effective in producing exactly what we outlined and usually
nothing more. That was OK as well. We served up a pretty defined product that
really did not need much more than that. Today’s communities and economy demands
more of the same profession. The leaders in my business are striving to change
the traditions of the past with people who grew up learning how they should act.
Authentic leadership must be a reflection of the real
you, not an act.
Servant leadership is not the
only effective style. I will argue the most effective is the one that is
sincere. Steve Jobs had been followed as an authoritative dictator. It’s hard
to argue that his style of leadership was not effective. He was passionate about
his pursuits, and he did not act like most CEO’s in the biz. He is one of my
favorite CEO’s, not for his leadership style but for his drive and passion. I
would have followed Steve Jobs (as a boss); because I would have believed what
he told me. That’s another topic, trust, the foundation of leadership which
would validate the sincerity.
The followers are there, they are all around you
looking for the real deal.
I have watched several
friends work hard in serving up what they had learned in leadership classes
only to experience failure in application. Understanding the tenets of
leadership is essential to shaping “how to be.” The best advice I could give
today’s upwardly mobile service leaders is, “Don’t act, just be.” This understanding will likely take time to
set in, just as it has for me. I am continuing to follow education in
leadership, because I am trying hard to make sure I don’t screw this up. If I
have people actually following my vision, I better be right and I can’t be
acting.
And one more thing, I am
still living the dream. Maybe that has something to do with it as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment