The Responsibility of Leadership

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY

In the late 80's, Chairman of Herman Miller, Inc, Max DePree, wrote a book titled "Leadership Is An Art". At the outset he suggested the leaders responsibility in this way, "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. That sums up the progress of an artful leader."

To "define reality" can get one into real trouble. You run the risk of being branded as "negative", "downer" or a "doomsday person". Of course, the alternative is to offer what change-leader guru, John Kotter, says is "corporate happy talk" - a recitation of past successes with a view of the future looking through rose-colored glasses. The "happy talk" makes us feel good but "defining reality" is what gets us moving forward and unstuck.

Many leaders are attempting to define reality. My encouragement is - let's listen to them as best we can. Let's give space to those leaders who are seeking to "define reality". Let's welcome the message and information realizing they are not trying to be "downers" as much as they are trying to clear a space where the information needed to make good decisions for the future can be digested. Let's make space for the leaders who define reality and let's be somewhat suspect of leaders who seem out of touch with reality.

If you are a leader who is seeking to "define reality", don't forget DePree's other invitation - to become a "servant and a debtor". Be willing to serve the folks you lead by rolling up your sleeves and sticking your hands into the hard stuff and see what can be made out of it. Let the folks you lead know that you owe them a presence that inspires confidence, encouragement, and hope. That may be tough if you are having trouble experiencing that yourself. My encouragement is to find a way to generate inspiration, encouragement, and hope within yourself so you can pass that on to those you lead. We owe that to them. That comes with the territory of leading.

And, in the end, don't forget to say "thank you". Offer thanks to everyone hanging in there with you. Offer thanks to those that are sacrificing time and resources. Offer thanks to those that encourage you. And offer thanks to those that are putting up with our mistakes and failures as well as successes - because we will have a good mix of both failure and success during this challenging season.

As Max DePree wrote, "...to be a leader is to enjoy the special privileges of complexity, of ambiguity, of diversity. But to be a leader means, especially, having the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who permit leaders to lead." The times we are living through are ripe for "difference makers". Be one of those who make a difference. And along the way, don't forget to say "thank you".

Lead On,

Scott Wagoner, Growing Edge Resources, LLC