As we wrap up the last week of January 2022, we and business leaders need to pause and reflect on the leaders we are, the leaders we are becoming and/or the leaders we need to be. There are various statements about how leaders are not born they are made. I’m not convinced the statement is true of false. I believe that each and every one of us has the basic talents to be leaders of one sort or another. We might not lead a fortune 500 company, but we very well could be an instrumental leader in a young child’s life by leading the local scout troop. Maybe more importantly is the leading you do daily within your organization.
It is likely that your path to leadership started as a simple process of taking or being given responsibility for some action or project. You were given the accountability to do or bring something to a successful outcome. It might have been all by yourself or may have involved a team of people. In looking back on that initial journey into leadership you likely took on the role of manager. You managed the tasks and people to accomplish the objectives at hand. In those early stages of leadership, the tendency is to direct. Give instructions and expectations and then involve yourself in order to ensure the element of the project is completed. As the leader of the outcome, you did not want to fail so you took it upon yourself to make sure everything was done even if you must accomplish it yourself.
This trait of managers to direct and then do, if/as needed, unfortunately became your building block to leadership. Rather than building people to self-develop and lead themselves, you managed their deliverable. Rather than you going to your next level of leadership you relegated yourself to managerial cause and effect direction.
Moving into the second month of the calendar year 2022 I place a challenge on your plate for consideration. It is never too later to become the best leader you can be. Now is the time for you to elevate your leadership approach and move from manager to guide. By doing so you become not just the person who does but the person who helps and guides others to their best potential.
People do not want to be led around by someone else. They want the freedom to contribute and be part of something bigger and better. They want to put themselves into the purpose and cause. This part of the people in your organization cannot be managed. It is owned by them and controlled by each of them individually. Therefore, your leadership is to help guide them from their present level of contribution to the next better and higher level of contribution they can deliver. As a result of this guidance, they develop themselves as future leaders of members of the team. Your role as business leader is now one of orchestration of leaders not doing of tasks.
This path of growing your own leadership and the leadership of others is not a casual undertaking. It needs focus and framework so your journey can be as timely and productive as possible. Engage a Promise Guide or ask JKL Associates about our Prioritized Leadership Engagement process. Call us at FL (407) 984-7246 or MI (313) 527-7945
Journey On!
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS – EMAIL US AT PARTNERS@JKLASSOCIATES.COM OR CALL OUR OFFICES – MI AT (313) 527-7945 FL AT (407) 984-7246
Celebrating 30 years of Delivering on “Promises”
