“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”

Bill Gates

The title does not make you a leader

 There is an assumption that the title makes you all powerful and knowledgeable. I have seen many that prescribe to the notion that the title makes the leader, I have seen them fail spectacularly as they did not understand the role and power of the “Influencer.” Influencers are people that may or may not have an official leadership title or role but can influence outcomes of an initiative or issued mandate. When mentoring principals, I always tell them, “Just because you issued a directive at the staff meeting, don’t assume it will be followed through as you suggested. If the staff feels that you care about them, you will be successful. If they think you are exercising authority because of your title, things may get rough for you.”

Be wary of “the personality”

You talk a good game but what do you really bring to the table? Being overconfident and charismatic is not leadership, it just makes you a good performer and the people you are supposed to lead will see right through this. They will measure your words carefully and again, any initiatives you want to bring forward may be met with resistance or with a lethargic response.

 Managers and Leaders

Confucius once said, “If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.” 

If you are telling everyone what to do, when to do it, how to do it, then you are managing, you are not leading. Your ego is getting in the way of creating a better organization because you wrongfully assume that you are the most creative or smartest in the organization. True leaders empower and allow the creativity of others to flourish. You find the “rock stars” in your organization, remove your ego, allow them to create and you remove the barriers. They in turn will faithfully tell you how to improve thus making you look brilliant to the organization. The organization will respond to a leader that trusts in their capacity and is not threatened by them.

 Its not about you

If you worry about someone outshining you, you should not be in leadership. True servant leadership is about bringing out the best in your people in order to meet the needs of the community. Far too often I have seen incredibly talented individuals not allowed a place at the table because certain leaders felt threatened. These leaders do not understand that they will look like a genius for finding those that are talented and can move the organization to greater levels of performance