I really want to be inspired! But where have all the cowboy’s gone? My last post focused on why I’m losing steam with what I hear being called “leadership”… This post I delve into the IMPACT of positive leadership (or LACK OF positive leadership impact), and how startling it has become.
So Fasten Your Seatbelts…
I was going to post this just before Thanksgiving, but I wanted to wait. I wanted to wait to see what December would bring us as people recollected their views on being thankful and took a steady onward gaze to the 2010 promises we make in January, only to promote them to “foregone conclusions” by February.
I waited.
I’m still looking…
Where can I go to re-establish my inspiration for the meaning of leadership?
Sure, everyone has their current-day heroes for leaders, but my “current-day hero” is more likely to be Jon Stewart and The Daily Show for giving it to me straight with a twist of humor than anyone on Capitol Hill.
My “current-day hero” is more likely to be to guy who cooks my perfect steak-n-cheese for that mouth-watering first bite than the doctor who tells me to eat healthy. C’mon… you feel the same, I just know it.
Effective Effectiveness
Effective leaders tend to be effective because they are the ones in the whole equation who we are more apt to listen to. We are also more apt to trust and respect them (or at least we like what they have to offer until they really screw up). As a result, they impact our behavior– plainly put, we somehow BEHAVE because of leadership… and how we behave may be good or bad. Am I more likely to stay up well past my bedtime to see Jon Stewart? Yes. Am I more likely to buy that steak-n-cheese sub instead of the salad? You bet your sweet bippie! Would I curse the steak-n-cheese guy if he screwed up my steak-n-cheese? A definite: Oh yeah !!
Though these little things might seem little, the truth is that most people who are in leadership roles have not inspired me to listen, pay attention, and/or believe in their message. I know I’m not the only one who would rather go for the truth and humor of Jon Stewart than listen to the ongoing brattle of our politicians or the embarrassment that mainstream media has become. Likewise, I’d rather go for the steak-n-cheese because if I listen to my own argument, I apparently don’t trust my doctor enough (ok, relax– I’m in shape and am in very good health, this is just an example to bring it home, people!)
But think about this: what I’ve realized in the last several weeks since my last post is that I don’t even consider what might happen if I DON’T listen and if I DON’T pay attention.
Our nation struggles to find leadership the same way teenagers struggle to find leadership. And if the leaders (or parents) aren’t around or if the nation and the teenagers “just aren’t that into” their leaders, what will ultimately happen? (hm)
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Christa (Centola) Dhimo, President & Founder, via Best Practices.
She can be reached at [email protected]
Image Source: dosomething.org
Leadership is such an array of characteristics and behaviors that any one posting could never cover it adequately. One attribute I don’t see discussed as much as it should is the willingness to be unselfish. The part of unselfishness I mean to emphasize here is when we as leaders don’t set out to keep the role of leadership for ourselves. In my opinion the more evolved leader is the one who is less concerned with being a leader themselves and more concerned in mentoring the leadership in others.
So very very true, and I know that the concept of “Servant Leadership” (and other topiics that focus on more open and un-selfish behaviors for leaders) are part of the 2010 Linked2Leadership topics. If you look at the most successful leaders, there was always an element of being more dedicated to “the cause” than to his or her own ego.
At the same time, the more selfish leaders tend to rise to the top quickly, and are often handsomely rewarded in terms of compensation, because of their selfish natures. Many for-profit companies have admired and looked up to those kinds of leaders because they tend to bring in quick-hit and [relatively] short-lived success… success that might last 8 years before it falters, but many “win” during the reign. The trick is to look at leaders who have brought in quick-hit CHANGE that yielded short-term success and drove long-term seismic shifts. Leaders who are in it for “the cause” tend to place a bigger emphasis on the success of those they lead, knowing full-well that in the end it means everyone wins.
Please keep reading and posting on this topic, as I am quite certain this will come up several times in the upcoming months.
Thank you for your comment !! ~Christa