Every Role is a Leadership Role: Cultivating Visionary Leadership at Every Level

As a child, leadership wasn't just a role; it was my playground.

My mom often reminisces about how, at five years old, I orchestrated "meetings" that were really playdates. There, at the head of the table, I was not just playing the host; I was the pint-sized chairman, orchestrating everything from the prayer over our pizza to the day's activities. This Mother's Day, these memories bring not only a smile but also reflect a fundamental belief that has shaped my leadership philosophy: Followers are for social media, not the workplace.

This belief is echoed in the life of Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, better known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a figure whose commitment to the world’s marginalized sparked global change. Like her, I believe in empowering those around me to lead missions—big or small. Mother Teresa’s approach to nurturing her apprentices, guiding them to lead initiatives that provided dignity in death to society's outcasts, profoundly impacts how I view leadership in every setting. Her philosophy reinforces that effective leadership is about more than directing; it's about inspiring and empowering every individual to make a tangible difference, a lesson that's especially poignant as we celebrate mothers and mentors who shape our lives.

The Universal Leader: Embracing Everyone's Potential

At Golden Global Enterprises , TTC College , and any company I lead, we see every role as a leadership role. We don’t have ‘employees’; we have apprentices. This shift is more than semantic—it’s a fundamental change in how we perceive and nurture potential. Every apprentice, from receptionists to executives, is walking a path of continuous growth beside me, not just following in step. This approach transforms their engagement, turning everyday tasks into opportunities for ownership and innovation.

From Teams of Teams to Leaders of Leaders

This philosophy is akin to what General Stan McChrystal describes in his book Team of Teams, where the traditional hierarchies of military command give way to a more interconnected and empowering framework. He advocates for leaders to be more like gardeners who nurture and enable, rather than chess masters who control every move. At Goldenlite, we live this every day, cultivating a culture where everyone is a leader—whether they’re leading a project, a team, or just their own personal development. In practice, this means that everyone has the authority and responsibility to lead initiatives that resonate with their passions and professional goals. This not only enhances their job satisfaction but also enriches their career narrative, making their work a more profound part of their life story. When I tour and share my poetry, I often tell attendees, "We are all poets," to emphasize that creativity and leadership are universal potentials waiting to be activated. This is the essence of our philosophy at Goldenlite—everyone is a leader, capable of inspiring and effecting change, no matter their title.

Practical Steps for Leaders: Empowering Every Team Member

1. Project Ownership: At my companies, college, and consultancies, we empower every team member with project ownership. This approach involves assigning a high-level scope of work that allows each apprentice, regardless of their role, to take ownership of a specific segment of our operations. This method not only boosts our bottom line by fostering a deep sense of responsibility and connection to the work but also encourages our team members to elevate these projects beyond even what I, as their leader, might envision.
2. Recognition and Feedback: Acknowledgment and constructive feedback are pillars of our team dynamics. I make it a point to publicly credit team members for their contributions—this not only recognizes their effort but also reinforces their integral role in our collective mission. Feedback, even during challenging discussions, is delivered with the intent to collaborate and grow together. By framing corrections as joint problem-solving opportunities, we foster an environment of trust and mutual respect, where every team member feels valued and supported in their personal and professional development.
3. Continuous Learning: Leadership development is a continuous journey, and we are committed to supporting each team member's growth trajectory. We proactively identify and address their learning needs, investing in their development through access to workshops, seminars, and daily challenges that serve as practical learning opportunities. Importantly, we absorb the cost of these educational experiences, recognizing the invaluable dedication our team members bring to our mission. This investment in their growth is not just beneficial for their personal advancement but crucial for the perpetuation of our visionary goals.

Reflecting on the advice from General McChrystal and the compassionate actions of Mother Teresa, I am reminded of my own early leadership at those early playdates meetings, guided by my mother's memories of a little golden leader. And that I have the most incredible mom of all time!

These experiences have shaped my belief that everyone has the potential to lead, regardless of their role.

This Mother’s Day, let us commit to nurturing the leaders within our organizations, fostering an environment where every apprentice can grow, innovate, and lead. By empowering everyone to take ownership, we create a culture where leadership is not just a role but a shared mission to serve and transform our communities, ensuring our actions always echo our deepest values.

The future of leadership in the workplace is already here today, and it’s golden.

Here's to a world where leadership is not a title, but a way of life! Be leaders. Be healers.

Be Inspired.

?

Be Healed.

Dr. James B. Golden