Thoughts on Leadership
An Excerpt from The Game Within
It is thought by most that diamonds are produced by long periods of compression of coal whose origin is prehistoric plant life. In fact, most diamonds are produced from carbonate rocks and organic carbon in sediments. Diamonds formed this way are fairly common. The small percentage of diamonds that are created by the compression of coal are extremely rare. There are many people given titles that imply leadership. This form of awarded leadership is very common. True leadership qualities are formed when very specific personality traits are exposed to particular environmental and circumstantial forces. For this reason, as in the case of the most precious diamonds that are created by the compression of coal, true leaders are extremely rare.
There are those who believe that a person who holds a title of leadership is a leader; that if you are elected to a position of leadership it logically follows that you must be qualified to lead; that if you produce the most revenue you should be the manager of the sales team; that if you are the best athlete on your team then you should be the captain. The candidate who wins the election has convinced voters that they are a leader but in most cases their tenure provides ample evidence to the contrary. The best sales person in a particular company has numerically proven that they can sell the most product but it does not prove that they are best suited to be promoted to manager of the sales department. The best player on a team is the person with the most skill but superior ability alone is not evidence of leadership. The organically talented in any field or endeavor will inevitably produce superior statistics but those exceptional results are not evidence of an ability to motivate others. In fact, it is often the case where the best player or employee fails to possess the empathy necessary to understand or the skills required to inspire those who are less gifted.
Leaders are formed when fundamental personality tendencies are exposed to certain environmental forces. It is not a specific equation or recipe but more of an unexpected result of the combining of different variables. The formulation of a leader is a process which occurs within the developmental stages of young life and then reveals itself to others when called upon by circumstance or situation. An early demonstration of talent or natural ability followed by some form of public recognition of achievement sets the foundation for a heightened level of confidence. The positivity of events fosters a level of individual standing which gives rise to the freedom of expression. But talent and early success alone are not a predictors of a future leader. In most cases too much early success can stifle leadership in that it becomes a crutch used to avoid the hard work needed to expand natural ability. Talent is essential but like most recipes it must be proportional to the other ingredients.
Early achievement and the confidence it inspires will reveal the foundation for leadership but other essential character elements must be added to the mix. Along with being experientially self-confident a leader will in some regard be personally unsatisfied. Driven by a level of positive motivational insecurity and an internal competitiveness, they will continue to work to improve regardless of the effort of those around them or the accolades received. This internal struggle to improve creates empathy for those who also toil to enhance their skills while simultaneously building a reputation which allows for the questioning of others who show a lack effort. Building upon an obviously superior work-ethic and talent driven confidence a form of recognizable individuality begins to form. It is not a case of announcing one’s arrival or the proclamation of people of power that creates leadership but instead it is an organic occurrence in which the power of a singular personality inspires a group of others to follow and achieve.
The fundamental ingredients of leadership do not guarantee the formulation of a great leader. The initially fragile message of leadership must remain consistent under fire and provide positive results. To this end, a leader must always be working hard to improve and enhance outcomes. It is essential to loyalty of those being led to believe that the person in the lead is giving maximum effort at all times. This constant quest to personally improve provides an example to others. It is impossible to follow someone who is standing still and this reality creates the necessity for a leader to always appear to be moving forward. This is a physical form of motivation that inspires a heightened sense of duty in others
Once the physical and behavioral foundations of leadership have been established, the ability for a singular person to lead becomes viable. Now the outward duties of leadership can be dispensed. A leader possesses the courage to take responsibility for a negative outcomes and the unselfish ability to change course when warranted. They are able to accept the consequences of their own personal failure. They are able to show a willingness to do any and all things they ask of others in the pursuit of success. They posses the emotional strength to shield others from blame and the confidence to deflect praise. They must consistently demonstrate that all expression is an unbiased and accurate reflection of historical circumstances and done in an effort to positively impact the future. All of these actions gradually create a credibility of message; a message which motivates others to embrace and implement a course of action.
Like the small percentage of diamonds that are formed by the compression of coal, true leaders formed by the aforementioned factors are also extremely rare. It is not the promotion or the title that creates a leader but the ability to mentally and physically motivate others to collectively succeed in the pursuit of a common goal that is proof of a true leadership.