A leadership role is not given to someone, it is something that they earn and are called to fulfill. In the workplace many times this is done in reverse. Someone is promoted or hired in to be a manager, supervisor or director and yet they have never held such a role (or had any training) prior to being placed in the position.
I am sure the percentage of managers who get the position by default, they were the next in line, is very high. The difficult problem is that the employees they manage are subjected to their inexperience and thus are guinea pigs for these newly appointed management personnel.
If you have worked in this type of situation you will agree that it is not only frustrating, but so much time is wasted being non-productive. Not only is this difficult for the managed employees, but what about the inexperienced manager? How stressful is it to be put in a position that you want, but are not ready for yet? Many of the managers who are promoted before they are properly trained fail and then they are either let go or demoted. How unfair is that?
There are so many great “Leadership” books and courses that new leaders and experienced ones can learn from. I am an avid reader and will read at least 2-3 good leadership books a year. In my opinion a leader never finishes growing and learning how to help those around them. Through Top Practices we offer several programs for managers and leaders, not only to learn skills but to understand how to work with and lead people. My partner Dr.. Peter Wishnie is a Certified John Maxwell Leadership Coach.
John Maxwell has an excellent blog called “Leadership Wired.” The site is directed at helping leaders to become the best that they can. Dr. Maxwell discusses what he calls the “Five Levels of Leadership.”
Level 1: Position – People follow you because they have to.
Level 2: Permission – People follow you because they want to.
Level 3: Production – People follow you because of what you have done for the organization.
Level 4: People Development – People follow you because of what you have done for them.
Level 5: The Pinnacle – People follow because of who you are and what you represent.
If you are a leader or feel that you are called to be a leader, then you will want to check Dr. Maxwell’s blog out or leave a comment below if you need a few good titles to some great Leadership books. Leaders must invest in themselves before they have the ability to invest in those that follow them.
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams
Happy Monday to you all!
Tina
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