… intangible in the face of service.
… intangible.
What I mean is that most leaders are versed in the basics of leadership. They don’t need a lesson on the importance of delegating, time management or vision casting. Maybe some pointed reminders to flesh out what they already know, but they understand the value of doing it and get the gist of what is involved.
But the intangibles of leadership are different. They can’t really be taught. They are either there or they are not; they are either active or dormant. And three come immediately to mind:
Aggression. The idea of someone being aggressive is usually placed in negative categories, and understandably so. But I have in mind virtuous aggression that is about making things happen and doing what it takes. This is about more than just hard work. It’s about refusing to accept roadblocks, or at least tackling them with ferocity. It’s about hearing “no” and refusing to accept the answer until you find a way to hear “yes”. Being aggressive is bringing catalytic energy to bear in a way that reflects persistence and determination.
Courage. A second intangible has to do with courage. It has often been said that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather taking action in the face of fear. I am thinking specifically here of the courage of decision making. Many in leadership fall prey to one of two mistakes: a “Ready, aim, aim, aim, aim…” approach that never fires, or a “Ready, Fire” approach that never takes accurate aim. In many ways, I’m not so sure the first of the two mistakes aren’t the more debilitating. There are too many leaders operating out of fear in the spiritualized name of caution. But in truth, it is simply fear.
Wisdom. A final intangible is the ability to be wise. Through wisdom is to be applied on a broad scale, let’s focus on the wisdom that translates into being strategic. Every leader knows the importance of being strategic, but that is very different from actually having a sense of what is strategic. One of the marks of an effective leader is the intuitive sense of knowing what to do and what not to do; what will fuel a critical growth path and what will not.
So while intangibles can’t be taught, they can be envisioned. And, more importantly, aspired to. For example, you can grow in wisdom, you can choose courage, you can determine persistence.
But again, those are intangibles and perhaps what sets effective leaders apart the most.
Have you ever thought you could actually use your leadership to change a person's life? I mean entirely reimagine it from loneliness and despair to engaged and prospering.
Think of all the people in your life that made you a great leader, They poured into who you are today. Now think that none of those people existed. What would your life look like today?
Today, would you help someone envisioned more than they have today? You can be that one person who makes a difference in whether someone is allowed to remain hopeless or has the opportunity to a new life.