Those of you that know me, know that I am a studier of leadership and the human dynamic. My personal definition of LEADERSHIP is simply having impact and influence.
It occurred to me recently, and came as clear as a bell, that TRUE LEADERSHIP begins the day others stop following you. Let me repeat that statement: TRUE LEADERSHIP begins the day others stop following you.
It’s easy to lead others when they tangentially follow, or are busy enough in their own reality and contribution. When those you lead no longer have an interest in following you, or become hypocritical of your very presence, that is when the true test of leadership is administered. It will rock you to the core and often comes late in the game as it has been camouflaged behind a deeply seeded ego and positional arrogance, veiling the harsh reality that there is significant work to be done if you are to rebuild the trust and rapport needed to truly have a lasting impact in the lives of those you serve.
So what do we do with this?
Last week we talked about the necessity of candid feedback, that last 10%, and the humility required of one willing to adjust their sail to become more effective in the service of those in their care. What if that candid feedback entrusted in your care says that you are controlling, confusing, unclear, disconnected, untrusting, not committed to the result and even a bully at times, full of self serving ego. What if this feedback hits you square in the jaw and knocks you to the mat? What if this moment, without even asking, reveals to you that you are doing more damage than good and that ultimately your leadership stinks?
Welcome to the classroom called life!
You’ll find that a good leader takes you for who you are, understands clearly where you can go, and then helps facilitate your journey towards your highest potential. In his book titled “12 Rules for Life,” Jordan Peterson explains that “It is the greatest temptation of rational faculty to glorify its own capacity and its own productions, and to claim that in the face of its theories nothing transcendent or outside its domain need exist. This means that all important facts have been discovered. This means that nothing important remains unknown. But most importantly, it means denial of the necessity for courageous individual confrontation with being.”
He goes on by posing the question: “What is going to save you? The totalitarian says in essence, you must rely on faith in what you already know, but that is not what saves. What saves, is the willingness to learn from what you don’t know. That is faith in the possibility of human transformation. That is faith in the sacrifice of current self, for the self that could be.”
I believe we do this by taking thought for the future and of the path ahead, by owning the decisions of the present. I believe that if we humbly deny our own ego, that our mind will be enriched and that we will be thoughtfully administered to by the spirit. When we move into the unknown with our best efforts, it’s those moments that growth comes more readily and new insights become illuminated.
In closing, I’d like to share one of my favorite quotes from Simon Sinek: “Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of those in your charge.
LEADERSHIP is not about you. Leadership is fundamentally designed and annotated to be the act of serving another in their journey to live into their divine potential.
If you find yourself on the other side of the reflection pool, staring at your own image, seeing clearly the opportunity to dig in and truly honor the impact and influence you have on others, go all in. The promise of leadership is that it will test you every day. Their is no reward, as leadership can’t ever be about you. Your life however will be greatly enriched as you see others lean into their own levels of contribution and service to others. Remember that TRUE LEADERSHIP begins the day others stop following you. When you get there, and you will, don’t run, let the work commence. Your people are your people. Lead them.
Until next week my friends, make it a great one, and remember to always...HONOR.THE.GIFT.