Take the Business Out of Leadership
For the last two and a half decades I’ve had the honor and absolute joy of training, coaching, developing and mentoring thousands of leaders at all levels of business all over this country. I’ve been in the business of teaching adults about leadership and what it means to be a leader. To do that I’ve been certified in half a dozen leadership programs and read more business and leadership books than any library section I’ve ever been to. Seeing people grow and find their own definition of success is what gets me up in the morning. Human behavior and leadership behavior, in particular, are my calling.
"... do a web search for synonyms and antonyms of the words 'leader' and 'leadership' and see what you get."
But in all those years, I’ve struggled with an ever-present disconnect, a pit or a pain every time I told a manager about the key leadership values or how treating a team with respect and dignity was always the best way to succeed. I felt the pit because I knew, and have experienced firsthand, that leaders who do the opposite of what I taught, can be just as successful, sometimes more.
That’s why I’ve decided to start a new non-profit foundation to redefine leadership and make the training and coaching available to everyone. We're creating a new, inclusive leadership program that focuses solely on the human components of leadership and resetting the actions, values, and language we use.
Our overall culture and prevailing perception of "leadership" are backward and broken. It’s filled with inequity, inequality, lack of representation, unconscious bias, a focus on money over people, and the pervasive use of violent, aggressive, and dominating male language. (Try doing a web search for synonyms and antonyms of the words 'leader' and 'leadership'.) That doesn’t mean that all leaders are like that. It means that those who are great leaders face obstacles that should not exist. The CULTURE of leadership is broken, and it needs to be fixed, so I’ve decided to be the change and do something about it, but I need help.
That’s why I’ve decided to start a new non-profit foundation to redefine leadership and make the training and coaching available to everyone. We're creating a new, inclusive leadership program that focuses solely on the human components of leadership and resetting the actions, values, and language we use. Taking business out of the equation, the program will apply to all settings (personal, academic, spiritual, community, government, and yes, even business. And it will be open to all. The goal of the foundation is to create structured and executive quality mentoring programs, training classes, guided projects, coaching, and a new leadership certification, all free of charge and with accessibility and inclusion for all.
If you have a passion for true leadership...or you just want to learn more about the project and program, follow my LinkedIn feed and send me a DM.
To get things started I’m forming several thinktank groups to brainstorm ideas for better inclusion, program development, and program management. If you have a passion for true leadership and have experience with leadership development or L&D, and want to be part of this project, or you just want to learn more about the project and program
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Together, we can make leadership accessible to all and take back the definition of a true leader, and remember...
Principal Learning Partner, Global Solutions at Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning
3 年I’m on board with you, Jason. The only part of your commentary I disagree with is this: “leaders who do the opposite of what I taught, can be just as successful, sometimes more.” It all depends on how you define “success.” I define leadership success as leading people so that they bring their best consistently because they want to—not because they have to or they’re afraid not to. Leaders who don’t demonstrate the respect for others that you describe never truly get the best from others. When you & I worked together, I had a chance to experience both ends of the continuum. You were an amazing leader who brought out the best in everyone who reported to you. Then I had a chance to work for a tyrant who managed by fear and intimidation. Between you and him, I consider you the only one who’s successful!