Leadership

Leadership isn’t about us – it’s about our team. Someone asked me once how my writing connected with the concept of Servant leadership. I told them it was completely connected, even though I seldom use that phrase. The concept of servant leadership is that as a leader we are to serve those we lead. It really can’t be any other way. This doesn’t mean we simply do what will make people happy or like us – when we truly understand that the leader’s work isn’t about ourselves, we use that perspective to serve the best interests of those we lead over the long term.

• The best thing you can do for your team is believe in their potential. Without question the best thing we can do for others is to believe in them and their potential. If we don’t see it, we won’t give them our best. Help your team members see themselves as winners – not to make them cocky or over-confident, but so they have the quiet confidence and motivation to become their best selves.

Leadership isn’t about us – it’s about the goal. Leaders exist to move people towards a desired future outcome. We can call it a goal, a mission, a vision or a target – whatever words you use – our job is to take people, teams and results to a place they weren’t before. Whether you want to answer phones faster, make things cheaper, reduce costs or create brand new things, leaders are in the business of improvement and growth. Let me say it again, the best leaders know it isn’t about them (or who gets the credit), it is about the goal.

• The status quo requires no leadership. Inherent, but unstated in the principle above is that if things were perfect, we wouldn’t need leaders. If we are in the business of improvement and growth, then as leaders we are in the change business, and a large part of our time should be about creating the change that is needed/desired.