Introduction
“Leadership is not about learning theory,” writes Larry Perlman, retired Chairman & CEO of Ceridian. “It’s about finding out how you are going to bring yourself into your work and into your life to make a contribution.”
So many times, a leader is defined by all the work that they get done, and the rewards they receive because of it. Rarely is leadership defined by how much an individual contributes to making the lives of others better, and as a responsibility.
Some will tell you that being a leader involves command and control. The goal is to make the work place orderly and predictable. But this often ends up being about controlling people and systems which rarely results in positive momentum over time.
There is another way of working with people which focuses on making sure your daily actions and your personal core values are in alignment, and that you co-create with others a work environment that is empowering and meaningful. To follow this pathway, there are four key ideas one must understand in order to be a successful leader.
Common Language Builds Understanding And Clarity
I have spent my entire career listening and sharing with a wide diversity of people. Along the way, I have learned that words matter. As Krista Tippett wrote in her book, Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living (Penguin Press, 2016): “I take it as an elemental truth of life that words matter. This is so plain that we can ignore it a thousand times a day. The words we use shape how we understand ourselves, how we interpret the world, how we treat others. From Genesis to the aboriginal songlines of Australia, human beings have forever perceived that naming brings the essence of things into being. The ancient rabbis understood books, texts, the very letters of certain words as living, breathing entities. Words make worlds.”
This is a profound truth. In the world of leadership and organizational change, words do make worlds. As a person new to the world of leadership, it is important to remember that words matter because they shape understanding and create clarity. And clarity is the foundation for success.
Stewardship Is As Important As Change
When one becomes a leader, we need to recognize that trust and stewardship are as important as personal effort and change. In reality, stewardship and organizational growth are not two different things. Instead, they are interconnected. Each needs the other, and stewardship is always the key to sustainable growth.
The dictionary defines stewardship as "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.” Author Peter Block defines stewardship as two things, namely “to hold in trust the well-being of some larger entity” and “to hold something of value in trust.”
As leaders we need to recognize that the ability to steward the larger entity, i.e. the organization as a whole, and to hold something of value in trust, i.e. when a team chooses to trust each other and their team leader, is granted from the follower, not the leader. The employees create the “power” to make the team work. They also make us “leaders” because they choose to follow us.
And we as leaders need to choose thoughtfully and carefully, too. Our ability to steward is based on the authenticity and integrity of our own behaviors. Some days, we get so busy that we forget that being a good leader means we have to become better people, not just a better leader.
Every day, we have a choice to hold something of value in trust. Our goal is to do this in a conscious manner. As Max De Pree wrote in his book, Leadership is an Art (Dell Publishing, 1990): “the art of leadership requires us to think about the leader-as-steward in terms of relationships, of assets and legacy, of momentum and effectiveness, of civility and values.” We can do this only if we remember that stewardship is as important as change.
The Real Picture Of What A Good Job Looks Like Is In A Person’s Head
“To excel as a leader,” writes Marcus Buckingham in his book, The One Thing You Need to Know ... About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success (Free Press, 2005), “… You must become adept at calling upon those needs we all share. Our common needs include the need for security, for community, for authority, and for respect, but for you, the leader, the most powerful universal need is our need for clarity. To transform our fear of the unknown into confidence in the future, you must discipline yourself to describe our joint future vividly and precisely. As your skill at this grows, so will our confidence in you.”
Brene’ Brown in her book, Dare To Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts (Random House, 2018) builds on this concept by asking the important question, “What does done look like?” I would build on her question by reframing it into “What does done well look like?” As with Buckingham and Brown, William Bridges clarifies the whole thing into a simple but important insight: “The picture in people’s head is the reality they live in.”
With this in mind, we as leaders have to recognize that the picture inside people’s head matters. And our job is to paint a better picture. We often paint the picture of “here is the work you need to do,” but we don’t paint the picture of “here are the outcomes of the work you are doing.” By defining the later, we are helping people understand why their work matters. It gives meaning, i.e. purpose and significance notes Lindsay Leahy from The Restoration Project, to their efforts and it motivates them on the inside rather than by someone on the outside.
Role Modeling Integrity Is Always The Right Choice
Dealing with a diversity of problems is a normal part of every leaders work. Over time, one comes to understand that there are no quick fixes with problems. Many are complicated and some are just complex. Nevertheless as a leader, you must always conduct yourself, professionally and personally, with the utmost integrity.
We don’t talk much about the following words these days: integrity, character, authenticity and sincerity. These words seem like they are from a different century, a simpler and less complex time period. Still, the wisdom of the past and the words from the past can still be applicable and helpful to us in the present.
“The word integrity,” writes Martha Beck in her book, The Way of Integrity: Finding The Path To Your True Self (The Open Field/A Penguin Life Book, 2021), “… comes from the Latin word integer, which simply means “intact…. To be in integrity is to be one thing, whole and undivided…. [it reflects a] complete alignment of body, mind, heart, and soul.”
To role model integrity as a leader, we need to role model the behaviors of courage, commitment, and connection. As Brene’ Brown wrote in the aforementioned book, “Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.”
As leaders who have to deal with problems, and, at times, overwhelming situations every day, we often make a choice to abandon our inner clarity and conform to the expectations of others. As Martha Beck points out, “In this rush to conform, we often end up ignoring or overruling our genuine feelings - even intense ones, like longing or anguish to please our cultures. At that point, we’re divided against ourselves. We aren’t in integrity (one thing) but in duplicity (two things). Or we may try to fit in with a number of different groups, living in multiplicity (many things).”
Furthermore, in the face of overwhelming situations and complex problems, we often choose control and comfort over courage and commitment. Leaders who conduct themselves with the utmost integrity make commitments and keep these commitments. It is matter of honor, courage ,and personal integrity for them. They commit to a person, a cause, or a mission, because it aligns with their personal core values. And we can see their commitments are deeply held in how they conduct themselves with others and in how they face adversity.
As a person new to the world of leadership, I strongly encourage you, no mater what is the situation before you, to choose each day to be more humble and be more respectful. It will be noticed and it will make a difference in the lives of those you lead and serve.
Conclusion
Choosing to be a leader is a great journey worth taking. The future will always be wildly unpredictable. The problems and challenges will be constant. Still, if we role model integrity, create clarity, build common language and understanding, and remember the importance of stewardship, we will be successful. As Brene’ Brown so wisely stated, “We are the mapmakers and the travelers.” Happy trails as you begin your journey into the land of leadership.
© Geery Howe 2022
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