Much of my leadership career I had a leadership title but did little leading. I didn’t understand leadership.
Stop aspiring to become a leader its a waste of time. Leaders don’t aspire to leadership – they lead wherever they are.
Always see yourself as a leader even when you’re following. All leaders follow.
Leaders don’t wait for titles; leaders don’t need titles. Lead today.
Don’t wait for a “leadership” relationship or position to gradually develop; create it by humbly leading, now.
Don’t:
Don’t accept traditional definitions of leadership that include telling people what to do and standing in front of people talking.
Do:
Embrace the definition that leadership is influence. You always influence – believe it and own it.
Lead your way into a title:
Do what all leaders always do, regardless of their official position. Kouzes and Posner summarize the five practices of exemplary leadership in The Leadership Challenge.
You don’t need a leadership title to adopt the powerful practices of leadership:
- Model the way.
- Inspire a shared vision.
- Challenge the process/status quo.
- Enable others to act.
- Encourage the heart.
Caution:
- Don’t challenge the status quo on your first day.
- Don’t create a vision – adopt the one that currently exists – and inspire others to adopt it too.
Immature or inexperienced leaders who challenge the status quo and try to inspire a shared vision seem arrogant, ignorant, or both. Focus more on behaviors and less on talking.
A leadership track record earns titles and positions.
When you aren’t the official leader:
- Exhibit the practices of great leaders. If you aren’t leading without a title, a title won’t help.
- Help others reach their goals.
- The most powerful statement a leader without a title can make is a question; “How can I help?”
What suggestions can you offer for someone who wants to “become” a leader?