We tend to over-
complicate things in life,
and when it comes to
defining what
successful leadership
looks like, we really,
really, over-complicate
it. Much of what
constitutes leadership
success comes down to
common sense, but
unfortunately it's not
common practice.
Searching the shelves
of your local bookstore
(do those still exist?) or
doing a search on
Amazon.com would lead
you to believe that in
order to be a successful
leader you'll need to find
some keys, take the
right steps, follow the
proper laws, figure out
the dysfunctions,
embrace the challenge,
ascend the levels, look
within yourself, look
outside yourself, form a
tribe, develop the right
habits, know the rules,
break the rules, be
obsessed, learn the
new science, or discover
the ancient wisdom. Did
I say we like to over-
complicate things?
I don't think leadership
should be that
complicated. If you're
looking for leadership
success, consider these
seven simple truths
(argh…I did it myself!):
1. There aren't any
shortcuts – Leadership
is hard work and most
of it is on the job
training. Formal
education and ongoing
development are
essential parts of
developing your
leadership competency,
but don't think you can
transform yourself into
a great leader by
reading a certain book
or taking a particular
training course. Great
leaders are built by
being in the game, not
by standing on the
sidelines or sitting in the
classroom.
2. Great leaders
started by being
great followers –
Most successful leaders
were successful
followers at some
point. They learned how
to be part of a team,
put the needs of others
ahead of their own, and
work toward a goal
bigger than themselves.
In our hero-worshiping
culture we tend to place
the spotlight on the
individual achievements
of leaders and not pay
much attention to how
they cultivated those
winning ways earlier in
their career. Learn to be
a good follower and
you'll learn what it
takes to be a good
leader.
3. There's no
mysterious secret to
leadership – Contrary
to the titles of popular
leadership books, there
is no single, mysterious
secret to unlocking
leadership success (see
truth #1). All those
books that I lovingly
needled offer valuable
insights about various
aspects of leadership,
but most of them tell
you what you already
know to be true…which
brings me to the next
point.
4. You already know
what it takes to be a
good leader – Not to
plagiarise Robert
Fulghum, but you
probably learned in
kindergarten most of
what it takes to be a
good leader. Be nice. Play
well with others. Say
please and thank you.
Do what you can to help
others. Of course you
have to mature and
apply those
fundamentals in adult
ways like being
transparent and
authentic with others,
challenging them to
strive for their goals,
holding people
accountable, and having
difficult conversations
when needed.
5. The difference
between
management and
leadership is
overrated – Tons of
books and blogs have
been written debating
the differences
between these two
concepts. Yes, each has
its own unique
characteristics, and yes,
each of them overlap
significantly in the
practice of leadership
and management.
Leaders have to
manage and managers
have to lead. Learn to
do them both well
because they are much
more similar than they
are different.
6. Leaders aren't
special – We're all
bozos on the same bus.
Leaders aren't any
more special than
individual contributors
and everyone is needed
to have a successful
team. If you view
leadership as service,
which I happen to do,
you should consider
your team members
more important than
yourself. Get your ego
out of the way and
you'll be on your way to
success.
7. Leadership is much
more about who you
are than what you
do – This is probably
the most important
truth I've learned about
leadership over my
career. I view leadership
as a calling, not a job.
As a calling, leadership
is about who I am—my
values, beliefs,
attitudes—and my
actions are the visible
manifestation of those
inner ideals. If you want
to be a successful
leader, your primary
focus should be on the
inner work that is
required, not on
behavioral tricks or
techniques.
No comments:
Post a Comment