The Depth of Leadership

Getting the lead on leadership comes down to one question. How deep is your leadership? Are you a leader on the inside? Do you know people who are only leaders by the labels or title that they wear? Leading without depth is a tough job. Over the last two months, the newsletter has covered topics about leading without authority now we are diving deeper into leadership, as we examine the depth of leadership.

Recently I was reading an article on the different types of Pine trees that prompted this article on leadership. See the Lodgepole Pine, Monterey Pine etc. are commonly called, fire climax pines, because their seeds are stored in closed cones until they are opened by a fire, at which time they are released in order to repopulate the forest. On the outside, a person unfamiliar with the tree may simply think it is like any other pine tree. This means that many people see only the pinecone without seeing or knowing that there is more to this cone. People who lead without authority are often as overlooked as these special pine trees. On the exterior they look co-workers. They may look less impressive than a person wearing a name badge that has a title of leadership.

As a speaker, who speaks on leadership, I meet a lot of people who wear a coat of armor or false front that allows them to look like they are equipped leaders, when actually they are missing the depth or soul of being a real leader. So often, we look at people and see only their exterior. Please understand that the exterior view of a person serves a purpose and sends a message about what the person seems to be. However, real leaders know that it is the interior that makes a person a real leader. In leadership, it is important to be able to identify real leaders. These are people that regardless of what a name badge or title says, they are ready to stand up under fire and place themselves in a position that will help the company or other people succeed.

Leaders don’t require titles or even authority because they are in charge of themselves and in any given situation, they remain true to who they are and lead others selflessly. Leaders are ready for challenges that come their way. When life, work, or family present real leaders with a bump or obstacle, these individuals stay up right. They remain true to their values, to their code of ethics, and to their friends and co-workers. They are dependable and the only thing that splashes out when they encounter a bump is their ability to lead calmly and with dignity, because they see the bigger picture in what is happening. Whether they are handling a customer complaint, an employee evaluation, or a disappointment from a peer or co-worker, these leaders remain objective, clear headed and determined to see how to make the situation become a win win. False leaders or people who wear the title of leadership on the outside, are usually quick to blame others and rarely take responsibility for mistakes or problems.

Bumps are going to happen; to expect otherwise is to set yourself up for disillusionment. The good news is that when leaders are tested the real leaders will reveal themselves, because it is who they are inside and out. The one’s who are wearing a façade will also reveal themselves in their inability to handle the situation properly. Obstacles help real leaders to refine their skills. Leaders don’t need a test to know the depth of their skills, they are already know that under fire they are ready to stand strong. They don’t fear being caught unprepared, because they are always prepared. Think of the hardest thing going on in your life right now, and then ask yourself, “Is this circumstance shrinking my leadership potential or stretching it?” It is stretching you to grow to go deeper inside and discover the skills, qualities and abilities that you have. Without stretching and without having depth, it is impossible to lead others. So let yourself grow! Embrace the challenges, accept the responsibility, and don’t worry about the credit or the titles that your have, because it is more important to be true to who you are and what you are meant to do, then to be labeled by someone who doesn’t really know you.

Like the pinecone that will open after a fire to ensure that future populations will have trees, leaders understand that it is more important to accept our fate than it is to worry about a title.