It wasn’t through disrespect, but more so a matter of being in my own little world, concentrating on what I was doing and oblivious to seeing him walk past.
The way he went about making his point, really annoyed me and I just couldn’t let it go.
I must have been displaying my frustration, and like a good leader, my boss approached me and asked me what was wrong.
I proceeded to tell him and his reply was a lesson I will never forget.
He told me not to respect the opinion of someone I don’t respect. We can respect someones rank and they may be an authority over us, but we don’t have to respect that person.
The same goes with organisations that I work with two decades on. All too often I see people in positions of authority telling subordinates what to do and micro managing.
Leadership is not about leading a company. You can manage a company, you can run a project, but you can only ever lead people. For anyone who is in a leadership position, if you are a leader, then you lead people, not a company or projects.
“Great leaders find ways to connect with their people and help them fulfill their potential.”
– Steven J. Stowell
Leadership is a lot like parenting.
Everyone has the capacity to be a parent. That doesn’t mean that everyone wants to be a parent and that doesn’t mean that everyone should be a parent.
Leadership is very similar. Everyone has the capacity to become a leader, it doesn’t mean that everyone wants to become a leader and it doesn’t mean that everyone should be a leader.
A leader goes out of their way for others and fosters relationships with the people around them, and when we build these type of relationships within our organisation, in turn, your employee’s repay you with loyalty, blood sweat and tears.
If you are one of the leaders of your organisation, it is your job to create more leaders, not followers, to put pride back into the organisation and most importantly, to set an example with every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that empower’s or encourages others to emulate your example.
My takeaway for this week:
In the final days of your life, what will you want?
Will you be checking your in- tray?
Will you want to drive your beautiful car?
Will you find comfort in looking over profit and loss statements?
Of course not.
What will matter then will be people.
If relationships matter most then, shouldn’t they matter most now, either at work or home?
Make no mistake, the effect you have on others is the most valuable currency
there is.
Leadership is putting the lives of others ahead of our own self interest.
Put others before yourself and lead by example. That is what inspires people.
Have a great week ahead.
Ritch