If I told you now
you are already
a
leader,
a game changer
in my world,
would you believe me?
If I showed you
all the ways
others/I
look to you
for hope,
light,
truth –
would you not see the
magnitude
I
see?
It won’t take you long if you look even for a brief minute.
Libraries upon libraries are written every day on the subject of leadership. Steps
for success, tips to remember, things to do/not do, people to emulate… it’s all
there. It’s exhaustive. And exhausting.
It’s an overwhelming notion, really, the idea of influencing
another. We pray to God that we don’t screw them up, or screw big things up
like entire corporations. We want so badly to mean something, to make our mark
in our insanely short time here. For the bold among us, that often looks like
sticking our necks out when others won’t. When things get scary or blurred, the
brave among us step in to offer what we can for the benefit of our colleagues
and friends. Doing the best with what we have… doing what we can for the
benefit of others.
As you may know, title does not equal leader. Authority does
not a leader make. Of course, there are incumbent responsibilities with any
role. These are the activities an effective leader must do to ensure the well being of her/his people or company. You can
read a mound of books on that. All valid and mostly all true.
All the while, the character of a leader must count for
something, too, right? Who that leader is
as a person? Yes! Of course it does. You can study up on that, too. Typically,
this wisdom shows up not in the business section of the bookstore but the
self-help or spirituality sections. Business and life wisdom – would we dare? Ask
anyone who has been leading for a significant amount of time and they will tell
you that what makes them effective is not a simple, one-size-fits-all, disconnected
approach. Rather, her/his leadership journey has been a collection of
experiences, teachers, insights on the intellectual realm and psychological/emotional/spiritual
one. As they’ve acquired knowledge, they’ve also had to strip away parts of a
façade to uncover who they really are. The best lead from that aware place –
fully embracing their intellect, their action, their passions, and their
purpose. That is the bedrock of FMG’s Wisdom Leading™ approach, which holds the Doing and Being capacities of a leader as equally sacrosanct. A wise leader
understands and performs in both dimensions, time and again, regardless of
context.
So, what does this actually look like? On the Doing side, there are five domains a leader
must master. First, know your business. Be qualified to be in the room. If you
already have the title, it’s likely that you’ve got this one mostly nailed
already. And, we can always learn more about our organization, market,
industry. Stay hungry here. Next, demonstrate strategic thinking. Do you see the
big picture? Do you make sense for others about how your work, team, or organization
fits into the whole? If not, this is an important piece to develop. You can’t
lead others with your head in the weeds.
Third, others must want to follow you in the ways both you and
they need. In other words, you must enable committed actions from your people. If
they don’t see value in what you’re up to, or don’t find a place for themselves
in that vision, they won’t buy in. Fourth, leaders are accountable for the
growth of their teams through active development. Are you providing what your
team members need through delegation, mentoring, and stretch assignments? Put
simply, are they learning under your watch?
Finally, your words, values and actions must line up.
Demonstrating integrity is critical to your legitimacy. Do you mean what you
say, and do you do what you say you will? Even more, do your actions match what
you say matters to you? For most of us, this is never a state of perfection,
but rather a constant source of watchfulness and diligence. Your integrity is
all you have as leader – manage it vigilantly. Seriously.
What about this Being business
then? With all those qualities, you’d be in great shape to influence plenty and
make a positive difference. However, most of us have had bosses who were great
delegators, strategists or communicators, but were really crummy people. What
you do alone won’t get you to leadership stardom. You must also be great.
When we say Being, here’s
what we mean. First, it means exhibiting an open, inclusive worldview that
considers others’ experiences and beliefs as equally as valid as your own. You
are willing to listen and value someone else’s truth. Second, it means you
generate innovative ideas. Are you willing to challenge paradigms and offer breakthrough
solutions to entrenched problems? Are you willing to stick your neck out? Third,
a truly effective leader knows what his/her strengths are and knows how to
bring them fully to the role. Your unique “genius” – talents, expertise, and passions
– is clear and expressed for the benefit of those around you. If others can’t
ID your genius, it’s likely you haven’t discovered it yet. Go, now, and find
it.
Next, an effective leader shows up “all in.” They are
engaged, committed, and find ways to ensure they can remain so for the
long-term. They nurture their personal wellbeing so they feel their best, and
thus give their best, everyday. Last, the most remarkable leaders are in the
room, in the moment. Mindful, aware, and thoughtful. They practice a state of
presence. They know how to still their minds in chaos, cultivate calm and
clarity when it’s needed most. They can distill what matters into a simple,
clear path forward because they’re awake to it. At their core – and at the core
of Wisdom Leading – is a reverence for Mindful Presence – that state of being
that spiritual traditions tout as the way to the Divine. Wise leaders know that
it is the way to access their best stuff. All “woo-woo” aside, this is the juice
at the heart of it all.
There is no great leading without wisdom, without
acknowledging that what’s at the very heart of who we are is exactly what
others need and want to follow. Our actions simply express what we believe
inside. At FMG, we say leading is “building capacity of self and others to
achieve breakthrough results.” The process is explicitly external – i.e.
results matter! – and internal, so does who you are. No one ever said being a
wise and great leader was for the faint of heart. Thank God it’s not.
In tending to our
full capacity as a human being, may this sacred relationship between the leader
and the led give us access to all we believe is possible. In it, may we find
our way.
