Test Your Leadership Quality in 2 Minutes
Dr. Serhat TATLI
Değişim Doktoru® | Global Consultant | Keynote Speaker | Executive Mentor |
Yes, I can hear you asking: "How come?".
I strongly advise you to give a max 5-minute read for the following piece excluding that miracle(!) 2 minutes in the end.
It is so common in today's business books to see the similarities & distinctions between, and the definitions of "leadership" and "management". In most of the cases the great problem about them is that there is a positive bias for the sake of leadership against management.
Come on..!
Not everyone can be a great leader, moreover being a perfect manager is not something easy and regular. Even worse, they assume that you are already a great manager (that is already secured by default, like my 5-year old son), and they check it out whether you already become a leader, or not. That makes me really smile indeed.. :))
But before defining yourself as a great leader or a manager, there are some questions to ask yourself to test your eligibility prior to make that distinction. If you are really bored of or don't believe in academic tests, try this and see whether it works, or not.
It is your decision how sincere you will be in giving the answers to the following 7 questions. This test is HR-free and no one will give you a KPI or 360 degree score for that. Ready? Here you go:
Assume that your life is a company (Your LifeCo) since you first remember yourself from childhood:
1- Are you the CEO of that company?
If yes, move on to the next question. If no, stop reading this article (& have fun :)
2- Have you ever set your vision? & mission?
If yes, when? If no, why? Have you communicated these with others? Are you in line with the preset vision & mission of your LifeCo?
3- What is the marketable end product/service of this company?
Is that end product competitive? Unique? Authentic? Meaningful? Valuable?
4- Who are the customers & employers of this company?
What's in it for others? Why do they prefer or not? Why are they loyal?
5- Would that company be a Great Place to Work?
Do you really know to lead? Or, do you make the best use of being a dictator enjoying the monopoly to lead your life? Are (defined) employers happy?
6- Had any other company been granted an added value by the existence or cooperation of your company?
Do you just seek the benefits and profits of your company only? Why should others be willing to cooperate with you?
7- Who would remember this company via legacy?
Does any other company have unforgettable experience, and so the motivation to refer yours? What does it mean for others in bridging to future?
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You can never ever lead an organization or a group if you are not really capable of leading your own life and I strongly believe that we have a bigger meaning than being the CEO of our LifeCo's only. What indicates you as an outstanding leader is not the current level of compliments you face, but instead the level of reference and gratitude you've been honored when you are not there, or even passed away.
Now just give 2 minutes to yourself and write down the names of the people WHO would honor you as a reference role model, associate your name with values like respect and gratitude, and finally would be confident with giving their CEO positions of their LifeCo's into your hands, if they had to?
If you have difficulties in finding the names to write down within max 2 mins, think seriously once again and keep on asking the above questions timely to create and make that list meaningful. Minimum 1 name is a prerequisite to pass this quick test.
Last but not least, I find it really nonsense to define a person as being either a leader or a manager before confirming that they really hold the CEO position of their LifeCo's.
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You can find the slideshare version of this article here:
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I would also like to listen to your thoughts about leading our LifeCo's. If you kindly write your thoughts in 'comments' section below, I would be more than pleased to read. Last but not least, I would like to thank for your shares in advance..
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Dr. Serhat Tatlı continues his long years of international top executive & entrepreneurial career in mobile telecom, consumer electronics, IT, and renewable energy sectors. Beyond his Ph.D. degree in Change Management, he is also a keynote speaker, lecturer in Kemerburgaz University and TV & Radio Programmer. For additional info
Great article. Thank you.
Your article reveals a very handy self- assessment tool; it is very simple and effective in my view. The career is a significant part but eventually just a part of our lives as a whole. A successful CEO may be an inspiring colleague but he may also feel like a huge failure himself for other aspects or others may feel sorry for him. I believe whom we have listed down on our list is critical as much as whom we would like to have listed but could not have. Thanks for sharing!
Makaleniz oldukca keyifli ve yaratici. Fikirlerinize ve kelimelerinize saglik. Liderlik ve Yoneticilik kavramlari suphesiz ki gunumuz is dunyasinin sonuclandirilamayan tartisma konusu olmaya uzun yillar devam edecektir. Sevdigim bir deyis vardir; "Herkes Cennete gitmek istiyor ama kimse olmek istemiyor." Kavramlarin ve statunun ekseninde donmeye devam ettikce bireyler ici bosalmis agac kabuklari gibi yasamaya devam edeceklerdir. Bir Lider lider oldugunu ifade etme gereksinimi duymaz sadece insanlarini yanina alir ve yurur. Bir yoneticinin becerileri de yarattigi deger ile olculur. Yetistirdigi calisanlarinin nereye dogru yurudugune bakmak bile ufak bir fikir verebilir. Ama Gandhi'nin "Dunya'ya mesajim kendi hayatimdir." sozu burada islemis oldugunuz konunun ozuyle birebir uyusmustur ve de dogrudur. Bireyler kendi ozlerini, ozgunluklerini, yeteneklerini taniyip bunu bulunduklari topluma gercekten hizmet etmek icin kullandiklari zaman boyle tartismalara gerekte kalmayacaktir. Ister bir lider, ister bir yonetici ya da kapidaki bekci olmak o zaman onem arz etmeyecektir. Kendini statusu veya isi ile tanimlamayi birakan insanlarin yarattigi bir is dunyasini hayal edebiliyor musunuz? Kisacasi yumurtanin kabugu ister beyaz ister sari isterse kahverengi olsun farketmez. Cunku yasamda, oz de icindekindedir. Saygilarimla
The ultimate test of your leadership? what continues to grow long after you're gone?
Laundry Manager
8 年This realy marks the beginning!