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Leadership Mythology
Written By:
Gregory P. Smith
Leadership is probably one of the most talked about business concepts,
but
the least understood. Leadership is about getting things done and
helping
people reach their potential. My experiences as a consultant has shown
me
many organizations do a pitiful job helping people reach their
potential.
One reason for this is old-fashioned leadership techniques--out-dated
leadership concepts or what I call, "leadership mythology."
A myth is something that is false, but believed to be true. As in many
things in life, there are several myths surrounding the concept and
practice of leadership. Unfortunately, these myths prevent qualified
people from rising to the top. By listing these leadership myths, it is
my
hope to dispel many of the false beliefs.
Myth 1 - Leadership is a rare ability only given to a few. Many people
still think leaders are born not made. This can't be further from the
truth. Most people have the potential to become good leaders.
Leadership is
not like a diet pill. Like most learned skills, it takes time,
training,
and lots of trial by error. The key ingredient making people good
leaders
is the ability to care about others. The second ingredient is a sense
of
purpose, vision or mission. A good leader charts a course and provides
direction to those they lead.
Myth 2 - Leaders are charismatic-Many leaders are charismatic, but
closer
scrutiny shows that most leaders are not. Some of the world's most
famous
leaders had warts--some sort of shortcoming or personality issue. In a
leadership role, people skills are very important--more important than
technical skills. However, the best leaders are those who work toward a
goal. Your cause, your purpose and your mission in life will make you
charismatic, not the other way around.
Myth 3 - The person with the title, most rank or the highest position
is
the leader. True leadership is not based on position or rank. It is
based
on action, performance, ability, and effectiveness. We all relate to
working for those people who were placed in leadership roles who did
more
to demoralize and destroy the business than anything else.
The best companies strive to develop and create as many leaders as
possible. W.L. Gore & Associates, makers of Gore Tex and other
products,
have a unique approach to leadership. The practice of natural
leadership
"leadership by followship." They don't appoint people as
leaders . . .they
let the true leaders surface to the top. People naturally gravitate to
those they want to follow, respect, and work with. There are no
limiting
job descriptions, job titles, and few rules and regulations. If a
person
comes up with a new idea, he or she puts a team together of people who
have
the desire and knowledge to make it work.
Myth 4 - Effective leadership is based on control, coercion, and
manipulation. Leadership is about the future, not the past. Joel
Barker's
has the best quote about leadership, "A leader is someone you would
follow
to a place you would not go to by yourself." Good leaders gain
followers
out of respect and their ability to cause people to work toward a
particular goal or achieve a destination. People follow because they
can
relate to the vision or goal personalized by the leader. A good leader
helps people become better than they are. A good leader creates a work
environment that attracts, keeps and motivates its workforce.
Myth 5 - Good leaders have more education than other people.
Educational
degrees may mean you have a good education, but it doesn't necessarily
mean
you are a good leader. When it comes to leadership, experience is the
best
teacher. The U.S. military has the best leadership development program
in
the world. In the military, you start out at the bottom. You are
placed in
leadership positions and closely evaluated. As your experience
broadens, so
does your responsibility. This practical experience is reinforced with
weeks and months of formal training throughout the individual's career.
The secret of success is those years of experience on the front-line.
This
is where a person learns to manage those interactions, experiences, and
conflicts. You learn how to balance the needs of the mission versus the
needs of the individual. Those officers and non-commissioned officers
who
fail to advance must exit the military. The military model of
leadership
development may not be perfect, but remains unequalled by any other
organization.
Greg Smith is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and business
performance consultant. He has written numerous books including his
latest, Here Today, Here Tomorrow: Transforming Your Workforce from High
Turnover to High Retention. Greg has been featured on television programs such
as Bloomberg News, PBS television, and in publications including Business
Week, USA Today, Kiplinger's, President and CEO, and the Christian
Science Monitor. He is the President and "Captain of the Ship" of a
management-consulting firm, Chart Your Course International, located in
Atlanta, Georgia. Phone him at 770-860-9464. More Articles available:
http://www.chartcourse.com
==========================
Gregory P. Smith
President and Captain of the Ship
Chart Your Course International
Examiner, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
"We prepare today's leaders for tomorrow's new horizons"
Phone(770) 860-9464
Fax: (770) 760-0581
http://www.ChartCourse.com
http://www.HighRetention.com
http://www.BehaviorProfile.com
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