Over the past few days I have had an engaging dialog with a few of my colleagues on what makes a good leader. If you have to beat your chest and proclaim to the world that you are a good leader, then you are already on the wrong bus.
Good leadership comes from challenging the status quo, and from asking the tough questions. It comes from navigating the bureaucratic maze to inspire people to get the job done. It comes from subscribing to the adage – if it ain’t broke, break it. It comes from having the ability to look at things differently, creatively, with an eye towards meaningful change.
We tend to confuse being a good manager and working hard with being a good leader. Managers get defensive. Leaders invite criticism of their ideas. Managers glow in the aura of repetitive work. Leaders are easily bored with routine. Managers blossom in the minutia. Leaders inspire.
I had the privilege of having lunch with some unique leaders yesterday. What did they have in common? The ability to articulate a vision and inspire their people to make it a reality. And they lead by example, not by the tenants of a manual or handbook.
One of them taught me something very insightful yesterday. I have always heard that we should treat people the way we expect to be treated. WRONG. I learned that we should treat people the way THEY expect to be treated. What a novel idea…what a paradigm shift. Such an important lesson could only come from a special leader.
I admire the lady who gave me this unique perspective. She is a brilliant leader, a good friend, and my next interview. I can’t wait for my conversation with her, and for my next Martini.
About Hemant Rustogi
Dear Prof. Hemant,
Love your write ups/reflections. Leaving a comment with the expectation that you would respond to it; “Treat people as they expect to be treated” ? – normally, or always ? What about considerations of propriety ? Moreover, wishes could manifest themselves in the guise of expectations and then as the old adage goes, “if wishes were horses……….”.