Leadership
Leaders Multiply
A good leader is measured by how many more good leaders they make
Creating teams able to achieve the remarkable takes a special leader. These leaders look for and find qualities in people that others overlook.
Leaders call out the best their people
The leader's responsibility doesn’t stop with selecting new team members. Instead, the selection is where our commitment begins.
Activating the full value of team members requires the discovery of their latent abilities. It becomes our job to enable our people to thrive. We do this through varying assignments, exploration of strengths, focused learning. All in a safe environment, where they can experience failure without career damage.
Activating the full value of team members requires discovery of their latent abilities.
The cost of leadership is real
Make no mistake, developing people and teams doesn’t come for free. This is one of the costs of becoming a leader others want to follow.
I won’t lie to you. Leading well requires sacrifice. If you are not ready to do that, best to let others lead until you are ready to pay that price. We have too many self-seeking leaders already. Good leadership was never about us; it is about those we choose to serve.
Anyone can lead
You might ask, “if the title doesn’t make me a leader how will I know I am a leader?” Leaders have followers, regardless of title. It isn’t complicated. We know we are leading when we have others following. Simple as that.
Leaders have followers, regardless of title.
By the way, if you didn’t know this already, you can be a people leader without having direct reports. Most are.
The environment where work happens matters
Many companies profess, “people are our greatest asset”. When reading that phrase, lots of questions pop into my mind. How about you?
Making it personal, I ask the following questions about what I do with my own assets and resources. Let’s see if any of these resonate with you.
What could I do to them?
- I can sell them.
- I control them.
- I save them.
- I sometimes spend them.
- Sadly, I waste some of them.
- I feel good when I give them away.
I find this interesting language to use; describing people as assets. I wouldn’t tell my wife that she is my greatest asset even though she is precious and dear to me. Probably wouldn’t use that language with any person I care about.
Shouldn’t the way we describe assets be different than with people? I think so. In your life outside the organization, how do most of us talk about those we care about?
What could I do for them?
- We can serve them.
- We love them.
- We can feel empathy towards them.
- We respect them.
- We could sacrifice for them.
Professionals I know don’t want to be controlled, they prefer to be led. There is a cost for leading. It is not for everyone, but it is open to all if we are willing to pay the price.
Last Thoughts
People bring value because they are valuable. The value they choose to bring the organization resides in them already and it is theirs. Our job is to multiply that value in our environment. We simply invite them to use it. That is how a leader multiplies.
Actions to Consider
- Make a list of what you can do this year that will help you discover latent abilities your people possess.
- Invite your people to try something new to help your organization and see what happens.
Shepherding: The art of becoming the leader others want to follow.
Other related sources
- Stop Telling Me People Are Your Greatest Asset By Ron Thomas | October 31, 2017
- People Are Not Your Greatest Asset By Anthony J. Bradley and Mark P. McDonald | December 06, 2011
