CFC Blog #66: A Different Kind of Leadership

I spent three days a week last semester tutoring a kindergartener, who was retained, learn to read. She was considered behind for her age, and would always be reluctant and unamused to open up a book or try tackling new words. I knew she was an intelligent little girl, but she was lacking the actual motivation and interest to read. So rather than only helping her with letter sounds and syllables and blends and digraphs, I put some time and energy into getting her genuinely excited to read and WHY it was important (the major change needing to be made) by showing her fun magazines and the backs of DVD cases of her favorite movies.. all cool things that had writing on them. These were tangible things that pertained more to her interests and that would help her ignite a change in her life. I wanted to demonstrate to her how the ability to read opens up a new world of information and fun topics to explore. As you said Rob, I wanted to lead her to actually will the ability to make her own powerful change. I wanted to inspire her to understand how this transformation would move her way forward. 

So thank you Rob! Your piece really resonated with me in a unique way. 

- Amanda

A Different Kind Of Leadership

Can we talk about LeBron?

I Just got back from another extensive trip throughout Europe. As a result, I only got to follow the NBA championships from afar. But, wow, LeBron James is simply a magnificent leader for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They had no (statistical anyway) business getting as far as they did – and it was incredible to watch.

At one of the business conferences where I spoke, the theme of the event was “leading the way.”  And in reading the materials – it was clear that what the conference organizers meant by “leading the way” was that great leaders demonstrated this LeBron-level skill. Making strategic business decisions, in their mind, was like a buzzer-beating, turnaround jump shot.  In transforming a business, they pointed out, great leaders should “take over the game” and “carry the burden of the company”. Their point was that we, as business leaders, need to have the courage to develop these heroic skills to pull off a critical win.

But I wonder, truly, if success with any business transformation, maybe also requires a different kind of leadership: which is simply the ability to effect change?

One of the things that I tend to notice, is how well the business leaders I admire focus today on simply asking the organization about change.

In other words, these people don’t just tend to view themselves as talented “skill players” that can “take over” or “handle” any specialized activity (natch, business transformation). Rather, they look at themselves as a student of change. Full stop. And they ask (and inevitably motivate) everyone to identify where and how transformation can move everyone forward.

Ultimately, it seems to me anyway, these leaders don’t often end up directing any specific change strategy. They rather just get the organization really comfortable with the idea of transforming at will. And their gift is really leading the people to will it.