Real Leadership: Earn Your Position

Welcome back to our LinkedIn newsletter series on John Addison's Real Leadership! Today, we explore the fourth principle: "Earn Your Position." Earning your position isn't just about obtaining a title; it's about proving your worth through hard work, dedication, and integrity. Let's dive into what it means to earn your place as a leader and how you can inspire others to do the same. ??

Prove Your Worth

In the world of leadership, titles are given, but respect and influence are earned. Earning your position means consistently demonstrating your capabilities and commitment. It's about showing you have the skills, work ethic, and character to lead effectively. Leaders who earn their position lead by example and gain the trust and respect of their team through their actions. ??

Walk the Talk

One of the key aspects of earning your position is walking the talk. This means living up to your words and promises. If you set high standards for your team, you must hold yourself to those same standards. Your team is watching, and your behavior sets the tone for the entire group. For example, if you expect punctuality, ensure that you are always on time. If you value transparency, be open and honest in your communications. By embodying the values you promote, you build credibility and earn the trust of those you lead. ??

Demonstrate Competence

Competence is crucial in earning your position. This means continually developing your skills and staying informed about your field. Leaders who are knowledgeable and skilled inspire confidence in their team. They make informed decisions and provide valuable insights. Demonstrating competence also means being willing to roll up your sleeves and get involved in the work, showing that you understand your team's challenges and can contribute effectively. Great leaders are remembered for what they do when things are tough, not when everything is going fine.????

Be Consistent and Reliable

Consistency and reliability are foundational to earning your position. Your team must know they can count on you, no matter the circumstances. This means being consistent in your actions, decisions, and behavior. It also means being dependable and following through on your commitments. When you are reliable, your team feels secure and trusts that you will support them through thick and thin. ??

Earn Respect through Integrity

Integrity is at the heart of earning your position. This means being honest, ethical, and fair in all your dealings. Leaders with integrity are trusted and respected because they are seen as principled and trustworthy. For example, when faced with a difficult decision, choose the path that aligns with your values, even if it is the harder option. This demonstrates to your team that you prioritize doing what is right over what is easy. ???

Let us look at a couple of great leaders who earned their positions.

Ratan Tata is a prominent Indian industrialist who exemplifies the principle of "earning your position." He began his career in the Tata Group, starting on the shop floor of Tata Steel, shoveling limestone and handling the blast furnace. Despite being from the Tata family, Ratan Tata worked his way up through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence.

"None can destroy iron, but its own rust can. Likewise, none can destroy a person, but his own mindset can." – Ratan Tata

When he became the chairman of Tata Sons in 1991, he faced numerous challenges, including modernizing the group's operations and expanding globally. Under his leadership, the Tata Group acquired Jaguar Land Rover and Corus Steel, transforming the company into a global powerhouse. Ratan Tata is known for his ethical leadership, philanthropy, and focus on innovation, earning immense respect and trust from his employees and stakeholders.

Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, is another example of a leader who earned his position through hard work, competence, and a transformative vision. Nadella joined Microsoft in 1992 and steadily rose through the ranks. When Nadella became CEO in 2014, Microsoft faced significant challenges in staying relevant in the rapidly evolving tech industry. Through his visionary leadership, Nadella shifted Microsoft's focus to cloud computing, AI, and cross-platform integration, leading to a remarkable turnaround. His emphasis on empathy, collaboration, and continuous learning revitalized Microsoft's culture and significantly boosted its market value.

These leaders serve as powerful examples of how earning your position through hard work, ethical behavior, and a commitment to excellence can lead to extraordinary success and lasting impact.

In conclusion, earning your position as a leader is about more than just climbing the corporate ladder. It's about proving your worth through consistent actions, demonstrating competence, being reliable, and leading with integrity. And, remember, you don’t need a title to lead! Rather, if you want to be a leader, you must be that leader before you have the title.

By earning your position, you gain the respect and trust of your team, which is essential for effective leadership. So, strive to earn your place every day and inspire those around you to do the same. ????