It was about 7 o\u2019clock in the morning when I stepped into the small caf\u00e9 to meet two business owners for breakfast. Referred to me by a colleague, I was looking forward to learning more about their business and their goals. Before our waitress set down our first cup of coffee, I could tell that they had a lot on their minds. After a bit of small talk to get to know them better, we began to talk about their staff. They had about 25 people in their organization and it quickly became evident that they were not experiencing the full potential from their people.<\/p>\n
I listened to them talk about all the possibilities that were within their grasp for their business. But they needed their people to do more. Complacency had set in, even for some of their best people. After a few sips of coffee, I asked, \u201cTell me, if there is one area you would like to see your team improve; one thing you want them to do more of, what would it be?\u201d Without hesitation, one of them put his coffee cup down and said confidently, \u201cInitiative! We need them to just take initiative.\u201d The other owner nodded an instant approval. Initiative was their priority.<\/p>\n
So, I asked, \u201cWhat would it feel like, if everyone showed up to work and took initiative … did what needed to be done without being told to do it?\u201d A look of extreme gratification came over their faces as they looked at each other, then me. \u201cAwesome,\u201d they both said. \u201cWhat could you accomplish if your team took initiative each day?\u201d I asked. Their reply was unanimous again as they both excitingly blurted out, \u201cAnything!\u201d I let us all bask in the glorious feeling of what that environment would be like. It felt great to me, too, and I had just met them.<\/p>\n
Then I asked, \u201cHow important is initiative to you … on a scale of 1 to 10?\u201d Before I could finish, one of them shouted out \u201c11,\u201d referencing the movie, Spinal Tap, and how they turned the volume up to an eleven, instead of a ten. I said, \u201cWow, an eleven. That\u2019s pretty important to you.\u201d They both nodded in agreement. \u201cSo, if you rank \u2018taking initiative\u2019 an 11, how often do you talk about it with your team members? How often are you teaching them how to take it properly for you?\u201d<\/p>\n
They were not speaking the language of ‘leadership.’ They never used the word, defined it, or described how to achieve it. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
You may have already guessed his answer. As he put his face in his hands, he said, slightly muffled, \u201cI don\u2019t.\u201d It was quiet for a moment as they both realized that the responsibility rested on their shoulders, not just on the shoulders of their people. They were not speaking the language of \u201cleadership.\u201d They never used the word, defined it, or described how to achieve it. \u201cWell then, at least we have a starting point,\u201d I added confidently.<\/p>\n
This is not an isolated incident. Most people, who are in leadership positions are not fluent at speaking leadership. While they know how to professionally speak about their products and services, their business, and their industry, they are often speechless when it comes to talking like a leader. They rarely share the traits and principles that identify a leader in their organization, and they almost never have a shared definition of what it means to be a leader in their company.<\/p>\n
In most organizations, people are promoted to a leadership position, but never taught the purpose of leadership; the definition of what the word means. If you cannot define it, how can your people achieve it? My team needs to know how I define leadership, so they know what to expect from me. From my book, The LEADERSHIP Connection, I provide my own definition of a Think GREAT Leader:<\/p>\n
A Think GREAT Leader: a person who clearly outlines a specified destination, and guides people there by course-correcting and adhering to the greater purpose behind the goals necessary for success.<\/p>\n
We must do more than promote people to fill a position of leadership, we must develop them to fulfill the purpose of leadership. Creating a shared language of leadership will allow people to speak like leaders and perform like leaders.<\/p>\n
LEADERSHIP STEP:<\/h2>\n
Here is a technique to begin planting the leadership seeds necessary to foster a culture of true leadership in your organization.<\/p>\n
Gather your leaders for a \u201cLeadership\u201d meeting. But in this meeting, only talk about leadership. Hand out a 3 x 5 card out to each leader and ask them to define what it means to be a leader. Together, create a shared definition of what it means to be a leader in your organization.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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