Presidents’ Day

 

The MMM frequently focuses on leadership and the traits that make quality leaders.  It suffices to say that many of our presidents have not possessed those qualities.  In fact, their behavior in their capacity as President, as well as in their personal lives, was often contrary to the behavior we associate with good leaders.  Certainly, we have had great leaders in the White House.  Those men likely mastered leadership before moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Others have depended upon the title to gain respect, support, and followers.  Respect should come with the Office, but trust, support and a following of the people must be earned. 

The title of President does not guarantee followers, just like your title at work does not guarantee you any true followers.  Titles just give us the opportunity to earn the trust and support of potential followers.  Some of the greatest leaders I know are influencers who have no official title.  By influencers, I am not referring to the social media kind. I am referring to people who positively influence others and lead them to a common goal.

Don’t expect too much from your title.  Demand more of yourself as a leader. Happy Presidents’ Day!

Leadership

The simple designation of a title or position does not make one a leader.  We are surrounded by great leaders without formal titles and there are plenty of titled position holders who are poor leaders.  Leadership takes work.  It requires intentionality.  Leaders consider others and the greater good; they are encouraging and motivational.  These are skills that are developed and nurtured.  They do not automatically come with a title.  Think about the people that you want to follow.  Do you want to follow them because of their title or formal role?  Probably not.  More likely, you are drawn to them due to some of the traits mentioned above.  It is sometimes hard to describe, but there is something about good leaders that make us want to follow them.  There are not leaders without followers, but there are leaders without titles.

Leadership is not a designated position; it's a
phenomenon. It is people following people because
they want to, not because they have to.
--Larry Wilson

Strengths as Weaknesses?

Strengths to an extreme can become a weakness.  It is an interesting concept right?  Think about what we consider strong character traits, and then consider how those same traits to an excess can actually be negatives.  This is true in leadership roles as well as our personal lives.  When using your core strengths you risk becoming blinded by your own success.  Remember the MMM last week about “Blind Spots”?   Consider some examples…

·         A driven and results-oriented person taken to an extreme can be a jerk who walks all over people.

·         If you are laid back and easygoing, in the extreme you’re a wimp who lets people walk all over you.

·         Outgoing and expressive people can become flakes who can’t get any real work done.

·         If you are detailed and precise, taken to an extreme you become an anal retentive perfectionist.

Be careful to monitor how you use your strengths.  They have clearly gotten you where you are, but to an extreme they can be a risk.  Ask yourself if you unknowingly overplay a strong suit to the detriment of a bigger goal.  Are you aware of this potential or is it hiding in your blind spot?