Leadership Unplugged.

It's hard for me to recall a period during my lifetime where effective leadership came at a higher premium than it does today. It doesn't take a molecular scientist to recognize that we have a serious ideological divide as to what the word "leadership" actually means, much less how it shows up in our daily lives.

One of my favorite definitions of leadership is by Joanne Ciulla, an American philosopher and pioneer in the field of leadership ethics, as well as a teacher and publisher on business ethics at Rutgers University. She defines leadership this way: “Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good.” Wow. If this could be a litmus test for successful political or professional office, we may be having a different conversation these days about our future state.

What inspires me most about her definition is the simple first statement; "-not a person or a position." That's refreshing, since a lot of our leaders today define their own leadership by their self-entitled, personal vision for unquestioned execution. The second critical piece is the emphasis on "a complex moral relationship." This assumes that effective leaders are inspired and motivated by the shared concept of the greater good for others, rather than themselves. It also suggests a shared moral contract for working together toward a vision for success, where each and every person has a critical stake in the journey forward; not a traditional "lead and follow" (patriarchal) construct. Then you add "trust, obligation, commitment and emotion, and what you have is a deeply connected proposition for how people can effectively work together, emanating from leadership through the team.

It's low hanging fruit to look at our current Executive Office in Washington as a case study in what not to do, because it's way too easy. Whatever. Yet by comparison, the best leaders begin to think about their succession plan the day they start the job. The best leaders understand that doing more than checking the boxes on the their job description comes as second nature. The best leaders are able to empathize with their team or constituents because they've been there and understand their hopes, dreams and aspirations. The best leaders intuitively act as though their primary role is to be in the business of serving others, not the other way around. The best leaders also understand that mentorship needs good coaching, and coaching needs good mentorship. The best leaders lead with courage; taking the tough ones for the team as well as holding themselves accountable. The best leaders in my lifetime always gave me a sense that my well being was the reason they came to work each and every day. They led through conscious, purposeful, and meaningful acts, not just words.

Ultimately, the most gifted leaders have the innate ability to inspire people with a compelling vision, paired with providing the necessary tools and resources to empower teams to make the work truly their own. Thank you Joanne for reminding us what the true nature of leadership looks like. Given our current cultural and political situation, we clearly need that now more than ever before.