What is Leadership?

By Jim Swoboda

My good friend, Joe Andraski, president and CEO of VICS, shared these thoughts in his blog at www.vics.org/blog.

It was written in the 1930’s and the author is anonymous. However, it is as relevant today as it was then, if not more so.  Enjoy

"Leadership is getting together with a person–as a person, free of the phony boss/subordinate pretense.

It is from out in front, never from behind, and rarely from the book.

It is sweating with your people, capturing the big one, making sure when they get it, that they also get the credit.

And it is suffering with them when the big one gets away or when things go awry and making sure that you share disproportionately in the loss.

Leadership is needling and joshing and being needled and joshed in return.

It is a lot of pats on the back and one in a while a kick in the pants.

It is giving and letting go–letting go–even when you have some doubts.

It is increasingly stepping into the background when everything in your being and experience drives you to step forward.

It is selling the worth and talents of others rather than touting your own.

It is being there for them early in the morning or late at night–with the feet on the desk–just to listen when you have heard it all 100 times before.

And when those you have led go on to greater things, surpassing even your heights, then truly you will know the secret of leadership–and with your quiet reflection of “I always knew he or she had it in him” will gain you the greatest satisfaction that any career can provide."

I am sure that if you search through your career and truly reflect on leaders and mentors that you impacted you, everyone of the thoughts shared was a trait, skill that they exemplified.  

Words to grow by.

Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:45:32 EST