People are the most precious resource inside any company…duh! They are the most wonderfully dynamic, creative, adaptable partners for accomplishing literally anything. We can surmise people are most productive when they’ve been given the chance to grow & progress. In that spirit, one of the topics that comes up often in conversations is the transition from individual contributor to serving others. In some careers, it happens pretty fast & our awareness can be the key to getting off on the right track. Whether you’ve just become a supervisor or lead a division, your everyday focus begins & ends with others. Why does this transition surprise us? What can make it easier?
I’m an expert!
How come the journey to learning everything we can about what we were hired to do doesn’t make the transition to lead easier? Shouldn’t our “street credibility” be enough to get people to follow us? If it were as simple as being the expert where we work in (whatever field) to make a successful transition, we’d have awesome leaders everywhere. Fact is, it’s not easy. Moving from individual contributor to getting things done with & through others takes intention. Our degree of insecurity can be our downfall.
Self-Control vs. Self-Discipline
Marshall Goldsmith says in “Triggers“, “We are professionals at what we do, amateurs at what we want to become.” The self-discipline we used to become great at anything is essential to creating desirable behaviors necessary for any life achievement. Conversely, we can get in our own way when our self-control allows for undesirable actions. We’re all probably good at one of these. Maybe you have great self-control & avoid damaging behaviors but lack self-discipline to attain desired goals. Or the reverse may be true. If you’re blind to these just ask those you work with, they already know & can help you focus on balance. Awareness is the key as we look inward to move forward. We can’t be all things to all people but we can be the best version of ourselves. Or as Tom Rath says; “You can’t be anything you want to be but you can be a whole lot more of who you already are.”
Situational Leadership
Hersey & Blanchard state in their leadership theory leaders should develop a hyper-awareness of their followers. The varying degrees of their readiness to accept coaching/mentorship changes constantly. Recognition & acceptance of this endears them to their leaders. Leaders should be adaptable to match followers acceptance level for the situation at hand. Our flexibility to say & do the right things others need remains the key to displaying the authentic courage to care compassionately. Peter Drucker states “…our mission in life should be to make a positive difference not to prove how smart or right we are.” When any of us simply maintains a compliant facade around a leader we don’t respect it depletes us. Coping in a “be safe” environment destroys effectiveness. We can & we must strive for a “feel safe” culture so communication can build understanding & trust can rule.
Either you’re in or you’re in the way!
While we might try to motivate others we often fall short. It’s my belief that if someone isn’t intrinsically motivated to put their effort toward any endeavor there’s little anyone else can do to change that. Leaders will probably become drained quickly when attempting to change someone’s mind that’s not ready. This often leads to the negative alternative of “pushing” to improve rather than the more positive “agricultural” growth mindset. If instead leaders create an environment where everyone’s “stories” are enabled, a healthy learning culture emerges. Listen, learn then lead!
Parenting
There are so many parallels to leadership in all aspects of parenting. We want to provide better opportunities for our kids than we had. We help them develop a good foundation for right/wrong. We help them know themselves so they can discover talents naturally & pursue their passions. The biggest thing being a parent helps with is the alignment of say & do. You can’t say one thing and do another around your kids, they’ll catch your inconsistency fast! If we’re leading & value being on time we certainly can’t be late anywhere. It’s the same with adults, our behaviors show them alignment of our values is true & not just what we say. Figuring out your platform for leadership begins by identifying your values/beliefs & acting on them with authenticity.
“To be everywhere is to be nowhere.” -Seneca
The secret to focused concentration is elimination. We need others to accomplish amazing things for the world. Coach the people, fix processes & let go the let them go!
Peter Drucker “Half the leaders I have met don’t need to learn what to do. They need to learn what to stop.”
Find your “happiness” level
Climbing the ladder seems like the way to go. But when we get where we think we ought to be is the ladder leaned up against the right place? Getting that seemingly glorious title, position or responsibility rarely matches the vision we had for it. If our motives are mis-aligned it can end up in authority by position & people will do what you say because they have to. They’ll work for your money. If your motives are true they give you their blood, sweat & tears by bringing their whole selves to work everyday. Find your right seat on the bus & stay true to your values, your strengths will help you determine where you should sit to serve others in any enterprise.
Leaders say “We” not “I”
When we find ourselves at the crossroad of getting away from personal contributions & focusing on supporting others our language has more weight. Patrick Lenioni sums it up this way…”It’s my hope that we won’t talk about servant leadership in the future because there won’t be any other kind!”
“God will not have his work made manifest by cowards.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
At the end of life, we won’t be measured by our accumulation, we’ll be celebrated by what we did for others. You’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse! If you love what you do, give it away, gift it to others, they’ll follow you for it & become leaders themselves…which has always been the point!
All the best,
Karl
Recent Comments