I think it is good to put to the test from time to time those things we “teach” others about empowerment and self-leadership. I think many in the leadership arena can become complacent with previous “successes” and become trapped into reliving their past as workshops, key notes, webinars, blogs and books become ways of speaking to others who wish to know their “secret” to being successful. Plus, it is a way to make money, get affirmation of previous successes, and have even more new benchmarks to measure success. Benchmarks such as book sales or top sellers, the number of prestigious corporate clients, income, what others are now saying, etc. I think when all of this happens, people can begin to lose their ability to lead as they switch from leading to simply achieving one goal, then another, then the next goal, and then….
I am now convinced that much of the attainment of goals has little to do with leadership. This is not to downplay the tremendous successes people have had and how difficult of road it may have been for so many, it is just that I think attaining goals and leadership are two different things. This is also not to say that the attainment of goals is not a good thing… it most certainly is! Yet we have over time confused the attainment of goals with leadership.
I can say that though I have not had the “big” successes mentioned above, I too have fallen into the goal achieving trap. There was a time I was a public high school teacher who simply loved to teach. I was leading myself and teaching others how to lead themselves and later to lead with others. And then I became a Teacher of the Year and later recognized as one of the top five teachers in America. At that moment, everything changed. My mindset changed as did my sense of myself and others. Even my world view changed. I began looking for things that would continue to show people that I was indeed worthy of those honors and I was determined to prove it by action and deeds not just words. Somewhere in that process I was not a teacher anymore nor was I leading myself or helping others lead. I was simply trying to accomplish a bigger goal and after that was done there simply arose another goal… and then another.
There are many out there who would look at my accomplishments and say, “Now THERE is a leader!” Yet I didn’t feel right and my inner spirit was unsettled. I knew I wasn’t being who I truly was born to be yet I did not know what to do to make the inner anxiety and pain go away. I felt little joy.
Then I became a Senator within my state of Nebraska, a state in the heartland of the United States. I accomplished many things… many goals and so many called me a leader. Then I became the head of a Chamber of Commerce and was immediately looked upon as a “community leader”. It was amazing how that worked… I was hired to a certain position of authority and that position made me a leader in the eyes of so many. Yet, deep down I knew I was not.
This brings me back to the initial premise of putting to the test what one believes to be true about leadership. Of course I believe everyone needs to take some serious time to learn about whom they are and what authentic leadership truly is etc. Yet for those who have, it is good to put that which they have discovered about leadership to the test and not just talk about it. One needs to create from their core values and purpose AND actually choose actions that are in alignment with those concepts every day. I believe one must stretch themselves into doing what may have been thought to be undoable. One needs to step out into the world and attempt something challenging such that every thought, concepts, fact, belief, value, and assumption is tested to the maximum. For it is here where one will not only learn the most, but will make the biggest difference.
Sometimes we need to go back to leading from who we are in the direction of where our purpose lays. Sometimes we need to quit talking a get back to doing. Of course you can hear me “talking” about leadership on the “Things for You Page” as shortly there will be a series of webinars for those that wish to learn more. Ok, I couldn’t resist that… but know that I have chosen to return to Kenya to create something with others that comes from deep within my spirit. Please know that there are huge challenges and no guarantee of any one outcome. Yet, my spirit is joyful. I feel alive and that I am making a difference. I am learning more about leadership every day. And yes I still teach those willing to learn whenever possible for I have found that it is one of the things I love to do most of all.
Just some thoughts for you to consider along your leadership path. Blessings to you all… David
