I recently lead a leadership development exercise with a group of university student athletes. At the close of a session we asked the student athletes to share their thoughts. One enthusiastic participant said that they couldn’t wait to serve as a leader, for that was the most important concept they had taken from the session. They thought it was so exciting that leadership was really a commitment to serving. Well, the student got it half right….and it got me thinking….
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In Leadership is an Art, Max Depree clearly outlines that, while the number one responsibility of a leader is to help define reality for their teams and those they work with, leaders must also embrace the fact that they are serving those they lead. Pulling these two responsibilities together, in a harmonious way, is the ultimate challenge for any leader. Defining reality, on a regular basis, with people you work with and care about is not easy. It is challenging, stressful and requires leaders to dig deep to ensure they maintain a culture of respect and dignity.
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Here are 3 things that I have learned about defining and clarifying realities:
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1. Never forget that defining reality is your number one responsibility – If you won’t do it, who will? And who is in a better position than you to deliver this message!
2. Don’t let service get in the way of defining reality – Far too often “service” manifests itself as support with a limiting, short-term view: removing an obstacle for a team member, cheering someone up who is down, ignoring the realities of a conflict by externalizing blame….. These messages are easier for the leader to deliver and, temporarily, put the team member in a better space. Unfortunately, service can result in the leader not defining reality effectively.
3. Be bold but humane – It should be at the forefront of a leader’s mind to deliver difficult news accurately with a focus on preserving confidence and hope.
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If any of these thoughts resonate with you – or they have sparked an interest in a conversation, I would love to hear from you! wuotilaron@gmail.com
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