Conducting operations
There’s a myth that “it’s tough at the top,” there’s another that “it’s lonely at the top,” – why is it so seemingly important to make leadership seem like hard work?
If we find Leadership hard work, we’re doing it wrong. We’re probably not leading, more likely we’re managing (just) or worse still (unless you enjoy stress) we’re controlling – or at least trying to.
Another myth of Leadership is that “for something to be done properly we’d better do it ourselves.”
The belief that Leadership is hard work is based on a fundamental mistake about what Leadership is, Leadership isn’t about carrying the greatest load, it isn’t about making the biggest sacrifice, it certainly isn’t about logging the most hours or taking the least amount of holiday – all of these tactics are roles, roles designed to make us look good – good as in hard working, reliable, dedicated – it’s tiring just listing the words. These roles are designed to get us noticed and rewarded (recognised).
I’m not criticising those who have fallen into this Leadership trap, most of us do and for many it is an expression of how hard they are trying to make their contribution, to do a good job. It just isn’t very rewarding and, worse, it gets less and less rewarding as time goes by, you might have noticed that.
But all of this is based on flawed beliefs about ourselves.
We don’t have to try hard to make our contribution, our contribution comes naturally from who we really are (not who or what we think we are, which is a very different thing). All that sacrifice and all those hours spent trying to prove something we don’t really believe about ourselves – it really is exhausting and really does lead to high levels of stress and burnt out cases.
One of our greatest steps forward in life comes when we recognise what Leadership is not about proving anything, it’s not about carrying everything, it is about being ourselves and allowing those around us to be themselves so that they can express their giftedness. As we step out of our roles and compensations we inspire others to do the same. As we step out of our self consciousness we inspire others to do the same. This allows for creativity, contribution, flow and productivity.
To take this step we need to get out of our own way which means we stop editing ourselves, censoring ourselves, compensating for all those faults we think we have. To do this (at least the easiest way to do this) we simply have to make something outside of us more important than resigning ourselves to those faults and shortcomings.
By way of an example of what I mean, because I know lots of people will read what I have written and see it (Leadership) as even more of a burden than they already thought – “Make something more important than me? That’s what I do all the time and I’m exhausted.” I should probably put my tin hat on before I say this but look at that statement and realise it is the statement of someone focusing on themselves, rather than on the something outside.
So, by way of an example, Leadership is about doing what is really needed, the thing we avoid because we don’t think we’re any good at it, or we don’t like to do it. It is having the difficult conversations, it is making the tough decisions, it is asking for help because we don’t know everything and we’re courageous (and wise) enough to admit it.
Leadership is simply being real, which people find inspiring. It is also stepping into the realm of Spiritual Intelligence. Leaders know, from experience, that they more they give themselves in this way (rather than hiding behind hard work – another tin hat moment) the more help they receive, the easier things seems to go, the luckier they get.
No wonder true Leadership is inspiring, it isn’t hard work (though it certainly can be challenging) and it is greatly rewarded – pretty well the opposite of how most would be Leaders feel about life.
