What is Leadership – what is a leader?
As I often do when preparing these blogs I looked for definitions, which may or may not be helpful. For example:
Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organization.
Or more unhelpfully
the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.
Yuk – “leads” (well that’s just the same word as a verb) and “command” is just downright wrong!! (Discuss!)
I work a lot with solo owners of small businesses – and in my experience they don’t see themselves as leaders – because they don’t have a team! I can remember the day I was working with a coach and I dismissed the idea of my being a leader. I worked on my own – I didn’t have a squad (going back to that horrible word command) of people to order about!
OK – I know better now!
Once you can get past the idea that leaders order people about then we are getting somewhere – and we are more in line with the definition of leadership above – Guide and Influence being the key words.
Are you a trainer or consultant? You’re a leader.
Do you talk to clients about their needs and recommend products or services that can help them? It’s all in those terms – guide and influence. You might be offering to replace a some roof tiles, there might be alternatives – you offer the advice on different options and guide the customer to make a decision. Is that leadership?
Are you a parent? Or do you work, or volunteer with young people?
Everyone has a leadership hat somewhere in their cupboard.
So – I might have entitled this – what makes a good leader. But I lured you here under false pretences – let’s start by finding out what Simon Sinek, who talks so much sense about leadership, has to say.
He says there is no such thing as a good leader or a great leader. You’re a leader – or you’re not, you may be a commander (bad leader) but if you are a true leader then there is no good or great! I love this!
Sinek continues – if you seek to be a leader, be the last to speak. Nelson Mandela was asked what defines leadership. He used to attend tribal meetings with his father (leader of the tribe) and everyone sat in a circle. The leader (his father) was ALWAYS the last to speak. Everyone else had the freedom to speak their mind and contribute before the leader gave his opinion.
But what happens all too often in an organisation?
The CEO rocks up – stands up before the attending multitude – and says something like – here’s an issue, here’s what I think – but I am interested to hear what you guys think.
And it’s doomed from the start. Already people are biased to give the answer the CEO wants to hear!
A true leader (remember not a good leader, no such thing) LISTENS to everyone else (they can ask incisive questions) before speaking.
Lastly (for this blog) Sinek says “Leaders Eat Last”. The function of a leader is to keep the group safe from harm – humans have evolved to live in social groups to counter the dangers out there – that WAS sabre-toothed tigers – it’s maybe less obvious now what the dangers are! In an organisation the circle of safety should extend to ALL employees so that everyone feels safe. Within the circle trust will build and everyone looks out for everyone else.
There is a corporate culture in which the “top guys” get special treatment, the car parking space near the door, the executive washroom key (I wonder if THAT is still a thing!) – and we largely support and expect it – and we dream of that washroom key!
I wonder if part of the drive to return to working in offices is driven by this? That when we all work from home the structure is “flat” – we are all the same? (Although I am prepared to bet the CEO isn’t working off an ironing board in a corner of the bedroom). Anyway I digress..
Leaders eat LAST because it’s all about the whole group – it’s not about asserting their status. It’s about giving Time and Energy – not sending out blanket emails stating their position, but perching on a desk and listening to what people really have to say.
It’s all about building trust – about building a feeling that everyone has everyone’s back. Leaders in the army will lay down their lives for their platoon. People need to feel they BELONG. They will then treat others with the same respect – and eventually that extends to the customer. The employees who feel they belong treat customers as though they are part of the group. If they don’t feel safe they treat customers poorly.
Leadership is not a rank in the army.
It has nothing to do with your position in any organisation.
If you look after the people around you you have become a leader.
Putting others first by giving up a little yourself – you’re a leader.
Talking to someone face to face or on the phone instead of sending that email takes time and effort.
So – don’t elbow everyone else out of the way in order eat first!
I would love to hear what you think?
Do leaders eat last in your experience? Does that make for a better working environment? Do you now consider yourself a leader – and do you listen – truly listen to others before you state your position?
If you have comments or questions then please do get in touch.