The Problem with Leadership

Recently, I was at a conference where the keynote speaker talked about leadership.? It was a fantastic presentation that was chock full of valuable insights, real-life illustrations, and practical applications that could be immediately applied by anyone who was interested in becoming a more effective leader.

Several of the business owners that were present told the speaker afterwards that they were interested in having him come to their companies and talk to their employees.?

Sounds great, right?

While it isn’t a bad thing, it does speak to a pervasive, underlying problem with most people’s perception of leadership.?

What is that problem?

I have written and talked about what I refer to as the “5 Leadership Myths”.?

There is one principle that is the basis for all leadership myths and that is the belief that leadership challenges are a you problem.

Culture problems, team dysfunction, customer service challenges, hiring & retention, low morale, and a host of other concerns are growing more and more prevalent with each passing year.? They are all a result of ineffective leadership.

If your goal is to fix any of those concerns, inviting someone to come to your company and speak to your employees about leadership is the equivalent of giving a lecture on mental health solutions to a room full of people who are clinically insane.?

It cannot and will not solve anything.

Why not??

You are talking to the wrong people.

Who are the right people??

Better question…who is the right person?

Look in the mirror.

Leadership is a me problem.

The problem starts and ends with me.

I am either the problem, or I am enabling the problem, which are one in the same.

If I become a more effective leader, I will experience fewer and fewer of the problems that result from ineffective leadership.

Becoming a more effective leader is an inside job.

Great keynote speeches about leadership are rare.?

If, upon experiencing one, my first thought is “my employees really need to hear this”, I’m finished.