I recently read a newsletter from Pat Lencioni on leadership. He questioned if everyone is meant to be a leader. He pointed to the example of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and how they were leaders who sacrificed for the common good of others with little personal reward given back to them, essentially saying that leadership is about stepping up to make a difference with pure motives.
Looking at all the corporate failures, some gifted people have become leaders but made a mess of a company, a society, and as a result affected personal lives.
I wonder if we falsely encourage people to aspire to leadership, when maybe some aren't meant to be a leader. (of course this does not mean that everyone should not have an opportunity to excel in their strengths, serve, make a difference, or influence others - we all have opportunity to do that)
I haven't come to a conclusion on the subject, but it's a thought. What do you think?
3 comments:
What about Moses, David (the other, not you), Salomon, Saul, Peter? None of them were error-free.
You're right.
My second paragraph is from Lencioni, who believes that b/c we push any and everyone into leadership we're bound to get people leading things that we're not meant to be leaders (either b/c of lack of gifting or lack of character).
Of course no leader is error-free. No one could lead if they had to be perfect. I'd definitely not make the cut. So I'm not saying that, or I hope I didn't say that.
My initial thought on this idea is that sometimes we push an expectation on 'everyone' to be a leader. Is it possible that everyone can or should be a leader?
I do believe in empowering people, getting people to use their gifts, giving opportunity for people to lead things, etc. But I have encountered some that have told me, "I want to be involved, I want to make a difference, I even want to sacrifice, but I'm not sure if I'm meant to lead this."
Pushing that person to lead might not be their best contribution.
A leader is someone who influences others. A friend, a mother, a sister, a colleague, all these people could be leaders. And there is leadership in different levels. Although, you have a valid point.
To add more to the debate, read this article, from Wharton: "Why Everyone in an Enterprise Can -- and Should -- Be a Leader" http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=893
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