The Secret to Leadership? It’s all Relative.
Einstein was right: Everything is relative. Certainly in physics, anyway. But outside of that science? How about this: Leadership is relative, too. Or at least becoming a “leader.” How so? The most significant variable to leadership growth is “relative” -- It’s you. You and your perspective; your approach; your …well, your you. My decades of leading teams, creating development plans, constructing leadership curriculum, and simply watching people, has led me to this conclusion: it’s all relative. That is, everyone is unique – maybe peculiar is a better word – and our response to and interaction with the world is distinctive. You’re not sure about the relativity argument? Ok. But does any of this sound familiar?
Given management training? You: Not enough practical tools.
Offered coaching? You: Too touchy-feely.
Tried mindfulness? You: Yeah, right.
Watched hours of TED talks? You: Too quirky.
Read Best-selling Leadership books? You: Too pop psychology.
Asked to think deeply about your strengths and weaknesses as a manager? You: Too busy.
What you’re saying is, “I really wanted leadership training but instead I got leadership training.”
“Becoming” a leader does not happen through books or training or advanced degrees or experience or success or failure… it’s ALL of that. You want to be a leader; you want to engage and develop people; you want to create awesome results? Embrace it all. Your leadership training is here. Everywhere. Sure, maybe one approach doesn’t work for you… so keep looking, keep experimenting. You’ll find what works for you because you’re unique (or peculiar).
For me, Abraham Lincoln became my leadership guide when he said…. “Greg, whatever you are, be a good one.” But I’m paraphrasing. In any case it works for me. More proof Einstein was right.
