Last week our Leadership Weekly Note (LWN: 05/23) took us to the foundation of influential leadership, namely, our personal and leadership philosophies.
To those who ventured into the conversation, thank you. I appreciate that this is a tough topic that takes quite some thought and effort. When you are ready to contribute, you are welcome to do so, no matter the time that has elapsed.
This week we tackle a crucial subject that arises even before we get to the point of constructing a philosophy. It is arguably the pivotal issue in our leadership journey as it determines whether we go or stay; whether we lead or languish.
I am returning to this matter in our Notes, even though we took it up in September, and I suspect that we shall do so again before the southern winter solstice. It is the most prominent question posed by people who are propositioned to lead through the influential leadership system.
BTW. I wager that the only people who do not ask the big question are those who imagine they are leaders because of their personality, position or title. There are many of these misleaders and anti-leaders in every nook and cranny of our homes, schools, teams, communities, businesses and governments. When we see what they do, and the outcomes they achieve, it is clear that they are not leaders, but self-serving manipulators.
Why Bother Leading?
That is the big question.
We can phrase it in a variety of ways:
- I am not a leader.
- Why should I lead?
- Why is it my business to lead?
- What is the benefit to me of leading?
- It is not my business to lead — others are paid to do that!
There are many persuasive answers to these questions, which are fully covered in Alpha, so I shall not repeat them all here.
I offer just one riposte this time round. If the logic does not suffice to answer the question, then it is unlikely that another 99 will do so either.
Everyone wants a ‘better life’.
There is no argument to be had that every human being, and every collective — parent, family, school, team, community, business and country — wants their life and their collective lives to be better, to improve, to progress and to thrive.
Just examine the evidence what people do to obtain this thing called ‘a better life’ (a good life, a successful life – call it what you will).
We educate ourselves. It starts off with every government in each of the 197 countries across the planet enforcing basic schooling on every child (unless it is a country that discriminates against girls!).
Schooling is followed by self-motivated further education and training throughout our lives. Why? Why do we keep spending our own money to learn more? To be able to do more, to get better skills, better jobs, earn more, live better lives, provide better lives for our family.
We look after our physical well-being. We exercise, we take up sports, we climb mountains, swim rivers and cycle across the globe. We eat smartly, take supplements, see the doctor regularly, ingest medication, and consult the psychologist when our heads rattle.
We follow belief systems too, which we hope will help us to understand why we are here, what our life purpose might be, and to comfort us that when we leave this stage it is not our end.
And then there are the infinite variety of things we chase to try and catch the good life. We try to socialise with the ‘right’ people; we follow every fashion; we buy and we buy and we buy stuff; we travel to the ends of the earth; we found businesses; we chase bigger and bigger jobs, houses and cars; and some of us will use narcotics to feel better, to feel successful or to numb our failures… and then we die.
Much of the endless chasing is fruitless and unrewarding, which is why we keep chasing, but never catching. It is like being on a treadmill – faster only gets us to the same place – sweating on the treadmill!
Then there are some people who recognise that ‘being a leader’ is a short-cut to power over other people, and to the mass-accumulation of resources for their own benefit, and the few who follow in their wake saying, ‘yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir.’ (Yes, it is almost always a ‘sir’ and not a ‘madam’!) These are the misleaders.
So, how does influential leadership fit into achieving ‘a better life’?
Here are the three reasons why influential leadership is the most powerful lever to achieve the better life we all rightfully crave:
- It sets our social agency free to think (critically), choose (smartly) and act (purposefully) in every circumstance — to be the best person each of us can be. This is about being the best unique you.
- It equips us with the tools to achieve a productive, meaningful and rewarding life, with other people. We live our best lives as social beings, when we take others with us — our partners, families, teams, learners, colleagues, and communities.
- Each of us is responsible to lead, starting with leading ourselves. In the same way that if we care about a great life (and we do) we do not outsource our education, our physical and mental well-being, our belief-system, or any other essential function of our lives, so we cannot outsource leadership either.
Lastly, here is an alternative way to think about the value of influential leadership in our lives. Being an influential leader is like being the conductor of an orchestra. There before us are the many elements of our life — different people with different instruments and different sounds and tones. Behind us the audience awaits – leaning forwards, expecting beautiful music that we will conjure from this ensemble…
Give yourself the best chance of being the best conductor of your life — this is where leadership starts.
Regards,
Colin Donian
Shaping lives for the better
