Leaders always lead

[Viraj Kansara]

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"Leaders lead."
Gregory A Campbell
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Have you ever worked with someone who considered himself a leader
but no one else did? I once advised a Board of Trustees of a
nonprofit organization where that was the case. They were
struggling with what they should do about their President.

The Board was upset because the President was taking the
organization in a direction the majority did not agree with. He had
run off several key Board members who resigned rather than comply
with his orders or his requirement to agree with his ideas. And
they were having difficulty recruiting replacement Board members
because of his reputation.

He had opinions. He made decisions. He gave orders.

Things had to be his way or not at all.

His relationships with people were shallow and based primarily on
whether or not people agreed with him or could advance his personal
agenda.

This Board President was someone who used power and authority to
get things done, but he did very little that demonstrated
leadership.

Board members kept referring to the President as "our leader" so I
asked them to participate in an activity that defined the behaviors
and qualities of a good leader. After completing that activity they
stopped referring to him as their leader and started talking about
him using other terms. Then they confronted him, with the help of a
skilled facilitator, about what behaviors needed to change and
within what timeframe those changes must occur.

- Experience of Tracy Brown
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Leaders create a shared vision and rally people around the tasks
required to achieve that vision. Leaders work with, and through,
others to accomplish goals. Leaders guide and represent the whole.
Leaders inspire people to do the things they need to do.

Leaders do use the power of their position when necessary; but they
do not base all their actions on positional power. Leaders are
willing to face negative circumstances and make difficult
decisions and to share bad news with the people who will be
affected by it.

But great leaders know that even in the toughest of times and the
most difficult situations, they are only as strong as the people
they have backing them up. Great leaders know the relationships
they build are often the most important factor in creating long
term success for themselves and their organizations.

Think . . . and act . . . like a leader!
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-Viraj Kansara
-Leadcap.