Responsibility of Leadership

"Its not just my own success that’s important but the proof I am enhancing the lives of those around me."

Watching a program on Netflix a few nights ago, planning to unwind. Instead, a light bulb exploded in my head. Maybe many of you already had it resolved but I clearly didn’t, despite priding myself on my leadership skills.

As leaders, whether in public or private sector, we share such huge moral responsibility. Its not just about leadership but do we truly understand our impact on people who work with us, follow us, and are influenced by our words and actions. ?

If you are a military leader people are prepared to give their life for you, even when they know you are wrong.

In the private sector, the things we say and do can still drastically impact the life of the human beings who work in our teams or under our sphere of influence. We are sometimes in roles that change the paradigm of daily life for millions by invention, facilitation, concepts or inclusivity. This is a far bigger responsibility than I had ever considered before – we are now in a much more diverse world, moving at a faster pace every year – not just earning large payouts based on ?providing dividends for investors.

Sustainability and resiliency are so much more significant than ever before, and that comes from a strong contribution from our human talent and our ability to envision a future where everyone benefits.

I hadn’t fully thought this through – but for good or for bad – we can have a lifetime impact on someone’s career, their leadership style, ?self esteem, even impacting their personal life. If I expect too much, perhaps that person, for fear of losing their job, will give too much and not have energy left for family and community.

I recall one example where one leader (boss) who was narcisstic in style, had a profound impact on the whole organisation of a company – that’s +/- 500 people who were impacted in different ways. A few were in counselling, some left and found new jobs but suffered a form of PTSD in the new role, where their leaders treated them with respect, questioning why they were so “nice”. Having trust issues. Some stayed and had significant personal impact on lives, marriages, substance abuse, and yet others were more resilient.

Yet, there are also examples of exceptional leaders who have enhanced and enriched the lives of their employees in a holistic way. Resulting in incredible productivity from inclusivity and high self esteem across the organisation.

In return the leaders end up protected by their teams - or exposed.

I am changing, I now want to increase my mindfulness. I want to understand what personal impact my example of leadership has on those who work with me, or are influenced by me.

I need to understand that it is possible, as even a commercial leader, to impact someone so intensely that you leave a lifetime legacy - an indelible mark. To ask myself, is my impact overall positive or negative - not just generically but for each person with whom I interact? - and especially for my lower performers.

For example - ?Is my moment of frustration going to negatively impact the mind and spirit of someone who looks to me to be the leader.

Can I express the joyful moments of my day, in such a way, that it positively impacts those around me? ?

Can I lead by being a role model who combined leadership, motivation, commitment, diversity and empathy in the correct formula that added value to all stakeholders.

We must understand what will be our legacy, and spend time (self coaching) ?focussed on realising the true holistic responsibility of being a leader.