Leadership is a Choice, not a Position
I attended a great leadership event this past Spring. One of the highlights was a conversation on leadership with Warren Bennis.
He is distinguished professor of business administration and founding chairman of The Leadership Institute at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. He has advised fours U.S. presidents and more than 150 CEOs and is author or coauthor of more than 20 books on leadership, change, and management.
Some highlights:
“What do we want from our leaders”
1. Competence (results)
2. Character (who we are; life as a career)
3. Engage (to draw into, involve; engage others in a shared meaning)
4. Culture of learning and growth
How leaders should spend their time
70% listening, 20% asking good questions, 10% summarizing and reflecting.
(notice, no time for talking!).
Does the person you report to approach leadership in this way? Do you?
A favorite quote from Warren: “Leadership is a choice, not a position.”
Remember the first time you found yourself in the position of managing others? Whether on a project, or direct reports in a company, I bet you learned a lot in a short period of time. Did you choose to take the position for the title, the money, the perks, the people, or the organizational challenges? Did you forget about the people until they showed up at your office door, seeking your guidance?
Leadership done right means choosing it as a profession, not a job. Managing is a job. Leadership is a vocation.
Joe Raasch :: Aug.15.2007 :: Leadership :: 1 Comment »