With all of the talk, books, seminars, training and discussion about leadership, why is it so hard to find? Do you work for a leader? Someone that has passion, curiosity, compassion, daring, generosity, accountability and grit? Or do you work for someone that is just looking out for numero uno, protecting his or her ass at all times? No really, who do you work for?
Do you think about the person that you work for as a leader? Do you come into work everyday and wonder what you will learn today? Or think, I hope he/she spends some time with me today, because I want to learn something new? I want to develop skills like them. Well do you?
Who do you look up to in your company, in your life? Who do you admire? Where do you get your inspiration? Is anyone out there that stirs your mind, your intellect, your curiosity, your passion?
A brief musical interlude………..
You might work for the greatest leader in the world, someone you respect and admire. I hope you do. Most of you do not. You are subjected to bosses (Not leaders) that merely sit in the spot above you in the organization chart. Someone that might have a bit more experience, someone who is resting on their accomplishments from years before, someone that has figured out how to work the system, someone that never does anything proactive for the business, you, your career or anyone other than themselves. Maybe you work for the dreaded “Insecure Manager”. (Blog on that next week)
Well if you are blessed with a great leader, what are you doing to learn the most you can? If you are working for Sluggo, what are you doing to change it? A recent Harvard Business Review article mentions the following attributes as true signs of a modern leader. The leader that does not need authority to make a difference. Do these describe you?
Seers — individuals who are living in the future, who possess a compelling vision of “what could be.” As human beings, we’re constantly looking forward, and we love to sign on with individuals who are already working on “the next big thing.”
Contrarians — free of the shackles of conventional wisdom and eager to help others stage a jailbreak. It’s exciting to be around these free-spirited thinkers who liberate us from the status quo and open our minds to new possibilities.
Architects — adept at building systems that elicit contribution and facilitate collaboration. They leverage social technologies in ways that amplify dissident voices, coalesce communities of passion and unleash the forces of change.
Mentors — rather than hoarding power, they give it away. They believe the primary job of a leader is to create more leaders. To this end, they coach, tutor, challenge and encourage.
Connectors — with a gift for spotting the “combinational chemistry” between ideas and individuals. They help others achieve their dreams by connecting them with sponsors, like-minded peers, and complementary resources.
Bushwhackers — they clear the trail for new ideas and initiatives by chopping away at the undergrowth of bureaucracy. They’re more committed to doing the right thing than to doing things right.
Guardians — vigilant defenders of core values and enemies of expediency. Their unflinching commitment to a higher purpose inspires others and encourages them to stand tall for their beliefs.
Citizens — true activists, their courage to challenge the status quo comes from their abiding commitment to doing as much good as possible for as many as possible. They are other-centered, not self-centered.
So who are you and what are you doing about leadership or lack there-of.
More details can be found at http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/05/how_to_lead_when_youre_not_in.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
Get moving.
Webman
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