| It is unfortunate that many managers today fail | | | | floor is dirty and the Janitor is sick and not at |
| to understand the role that leadership plays in the | | | | work someone needs to sweep the floor, but is |
| execution of their roles and responsibilities. Over | | | | that really your responsibility - to show your |
| the years I have read over 300 definitions of | | | | employees that you are not above this task. Your |
| leadership. There are hundreds of books available | | | | employees want a leader they can respect and |
| on leadership and numerous seminars are held | | | | trust not a back-up for the janitorial staff. |
| each year professing to teach people how to lead. | | | | 4. Leadership is an endowment or an education |
| And yet, many managers fail to grasp the | | | | process. Leadership trust, respect and confidence |
| importance of this critical attitude. (I have chosen | | | | are earned and not a set of mastered skill sets. |
| to call leadership an attitude rather than a skill.) | | | | 5. You can study your way to effective |
| This week I would like to talk about what | | | | leadership. You can read all of the books on |
| leadership isn't or what I call the eight biggest | | | | leadership and unless you are willing to let go of |
| leadership myths. If you are operating with any of | | | | some of your beliefs, attitudes, prejudices, |
| these as your philosophy or fundamental approach | | | | opinions or paradigms you can have all of the |
| to leadership you might want to take another | | | | leadership knowledge in the world and still fail as a |
| look at how you are leading or think you are | | | | leader. Just look around you! This doesn't mean |
| leading. If you are cont guilty of embracing any of | | | | that you shouldn't study leadership but it does |
| the eight, congratulations, you are obviously well | | | | mean that study is not enough, it takes wisdom, |
| ahead of your management peers. Here are the | | | | understanding and execution. |
| eight. | | | | 6. You have to be a senior citizen with gray hair |
| 1. Position or title does not equate to leadership. | | | | to be an effective leader. I know many |
| Just because you may be the CEO, President or | | | | executives who are still in their twenties and are |
| a department head does not mean you have | | | | model leaders. |
| leadership attitudes or ability. There are a lot of | | | | 7. That to be a leader you have to be in charge |
| people running organizations today whom I would | | | | of something or someone. Leadership is not |
| not classify as good or even acceptable leaders. | | | | position. You can be the receptionist and have a |
| 2. Tenure or longevity does not equate to | | | | leadership attitude about your roles and |
| effective leadership capabilities. Just because you | | | | responsibilities. You can be in sales and have a |
| may have been with your organization for over | | | | leadership mindset about your tasks. |
| thirty years does not mean you are an effective | | | | 8. To lead you have to have followers. Leadership |
| leader. Any success you might have had could | | | | does not imply that you have to be in front of a |
| have been timing, luck, pure effort, will or any | | | | group. If you are the only person working in a |
| combination of these. | | | | department you can still demonstrate leadership |
| 3. You have to be willing to do any task that any | | | | attitudes. |
| of your employees are asked to do. Sure if the | | | | |