Weekly Reading...Ponderings

I have heard multiple people in "leadership" positions quote Gallup's statistic that 97% of people self identifying themselves as "above average" leaders.  This means 97% of people consider themselves leaders with a disproportionate 3% following them. Now I can experientially testify to the majority of the 97% of people polled as being either delusional or failing to comprehending what leadership is.  My inkling is to lean towards the latter. If this is true, then it leads me to ponder what the elusive word, "leadership" actually means.

A quick Google search resulted in a plethora of subjective definitions and thoughts on leadership.  The one consensus I found was leadership is considered a noun.  In my scouring of the web I came across a blog that put a nuance on the term, which shifted my initial inquiry. The blog articulated, "leadership is not about your position, title, personality, traits, skills or competencies.  Leadership is about being deeply connected to a purpose and vision you care about, and then working to make it happen."

My original hypothesis, supported by my very unscientific search tool, amalgamated with my experiences and opinions have led to conclude people define leadership in the ways this quote rejects.  People discuss leadership in terms of position, titles, personality, traits, skills or competencies.  However, these are ramifications, outcomes, and products of people's passions, purpose, and visions materializing.  It is only in the materialization of someone's passion, purpose, and vision where he or she can be placed atop of the corporate ladder and afforded the title, position, and compensation (not always monetary) which gains them the attributed and coveted title "leader."

This leads me back to the Gallup stat.  How can so many people misinterpret leadership, let alone label themselves as "above average."  Would I be to bold to suggest fear?  Fear is an antonym or something we don't readily associate with leadership.  Yet, if we make leadership about position, titles, personality, traits, skills, or competencies, then there is no risk, no passion, no purpose or vision required.  Fear does not enter into this equation.  However, leadership is not something to be acquired, passed down, handed to, or inherent.  Leadership is about compelling people to follow you.  It requires you to act.  To risk yourself.  To stand up and declare who you are, where you stand, and what you intend to do.  People want to follow people like this.  Consequently, choosing this path is scary.  The possibility of failure is around every corner.  I wonder if this isn't the reason why so many people define leadership in terms of position, titles, personality, traits, skills, and competencies?  It awards them the title without the work or risk of failure.  They can be measured and even exceed, but without passion, purpose, and vision accompanied with the gumption and fortitude to bring their beliefs into reality, then I don't think we can declare them leaders.

How do you define yourself?  Can you describe your passions, your purpose, and vision for your life?  Are you courageously walking towards your calling?  If you don't know, then you might be a victim of Gallup's poll.  I know for far too long I have...

The Week's Top Links That Caught My Eye

1. Apparently your reputation is everything
2. The truth about where our tax dollars are spent 
3. Why people are drawn to simplicity over truth?
4. Gender pay: lets map it out
5. Body Language
6. What does your sleeping position say about your relationship?
7. The argument continues: What's more dangerous marijuana or alcohol?
8. What would happen if more companies were like GE?
9. 5 Ways to get anyone to do anything
10. Always communicate the Why
11. Good Friday Reflection

                                                              Welcome to San Jose

Weekly Pondering....or Reading

To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

It has been a long busy stressful week.  If you didn't catch the three adjectives ill just say "I am happy its Friday!"  As I was flipping through my blog reader of 517 unread articles I realized different titles were jumping out at me.  Titles ranging from yoga to competing for the most stressed out. I mean if you're going to let it happen, then why not lead the pack. 

While considering my inflexibility and the pain required to become flexible I came across Ralph's quote.  While reading it my last two interviews and their communicated understanding of success sprung into the forefront of my mind.

It's funny how different people define success.  Well, I guess it isn't funny how people define it, but how they don't define it.  Most people define success monetarily, just as my last two candidates did.  Consequently, upon me probing deeper in the interview into what that meant for them, such as to generate a particular dollar figure for the acquisition of their services, their answers were left wanting.   The vague general taxonomy of "financial success" wasn't really what either candidate wanted.  They wanted titles, power, prestige, and the opportunity for growth. I realized while they said one thing, they meant another.  None of the candidates could readily identify their deeper desires without speaking in terms of financial success.  Don't get me wrong, what they were desiring usually results in financial success, but it is a ramification to acquiring the first which leads to the latter.  This left me wondering, do they know what they really want? Do I?

 I was asked again this week, if I did.  One would think my strength of deliberation would eventually help me articulate an answer.  However, a strength taken too its extreme is a weakness or blind spot (I've heard successful people are able to identify and rectify) In ruminating upon my desires, and clicking through my blog reader trying to find a manageable amount articles for this blog, Dick Briggs quote assaulted me.

"The greatest gap in life is the one between knowing and doing"

More questions to percolate on... Is my inability to articulate what I want a subconscious blind spot protecting me from fear of failure?  Or is it fear of disrupting the status quo?  Before I did too deep into my subconscious, ill ask you.  Do you know what you want?  Are you striving for it?  How would others decipher your actions?  Or do you have a subconscious a blind spot?  However, you decide to answer, take comfort in Ralph recognizing there are multiple ways to reach success, and they might not be what we are trying to articulate.

What would a leader blog be without some articles...

Since I am hiring

• Want to hire better people

Since we're reflecting today

• Quotes

Since it was a stressful week

• Stop believing everything is urgent
• When you think you're week can't get worse

Since I'm curious what drives you

• Are you driven by character or emotion

Since the blog is for my leadership team

• Tinkering with strategy for small to midsize companies
• Develop all 

Leadership in Sports

• What business can learn from the greatest comeback in sports history
• Cautionary tale for how the Lakers got so lousy 

Since Hockey playoffs start next week

Weekly Reading 5/4

Our biological clocks are ticking, or at least moving us in a certain direction.  I believe, whether consciously or unconsciously, I am always ruminating on this reality.  I remember reading an article citing facts about how it becomes harder to learn after the age of 25.  Upon reading the article, and being 25, I immediately begin applied for my masters of theology.  A year later I started.  I was determined to not become a statistic.  My decision was based upon my values with a tad bit of fear of who I'd become if I didn't.

Five years later I have begun to explore what it would look like to obtain my MBA.  While investigating my options my I ran across this article.  While I found the article very interesting I realized our society is always commenting on our age.  One moment we are too young to do something, the next we are getting too old.  No matter how old we are, someone (peers, family, society) is always trying to put limits on us.  I share this as I prepare to make more life altering decisions.  I don't want those decisions to be a reaction from my impatience or out of fear.  Consequently, making decisions based upon my identity and my desired telos is much more difficult.   I have learned the journey I desire is often in stark contrast to the opinions of the loud voices around me.  Having said that, if achieving goals were easy, we'd all be doing it.

Enjoy my collection of leadership readings this week.

1. Own the crisis or it will own you
2. Its not enough to manage, you must inspire 
3. The head and heart of leaders...aim to hit both
4. 4 lessons execs must learn
5. Mindfulness for people who are too busy to meditate (Sounds oxymoronic)
6. 4 Ways to get the real story...getting the truth
7. Stop pushing development
8. 7 things great employers do that others don't

In closing and on the lighter side....The birth of the lightsaber