No leader can take the team further than they have gone themselves.
I wrote that thought in both the 12 and 8 playbooks, on purpose. I believe it. Yesterday, during practice, this tiny little sentence took center stage. A couple folks didn’t believe it was accurate. This happens all the time, with this tiny little sentence. Who knew?
I believe it is another law of humanity. Here’s my “why.”
We are not that different from the animal world. We’re just NOT. I’ve lost many of you by now but come on back. I do not believe we are just like animals. Moving on.
In the animal world the leader is “elected” based on their strength. They remain the leader as long as they are able to prove they are stronger than their challengers. Nature rules. Nature rules in our world too. It just does.
A high performance team will not last long working for a weak leader. A team of committed learners will not last long following someone that has decided to stop learning. A team of highly motivated young enterprisers will not last long working for an old settler. A team of outstanding lawyers will not last long working for a Managing Partner that isn’t managing their partners. A team of devoted scientists will not last long working for someone who has stopped being curious. A team of decision makers will not last long working for someone who can’t seem to make one. A team of Church goers will not last long worshipping with a leader that has stopped becoming a master teacher.
Many of you are thinking that there is a flaw in my thinking. You are thinking up examples of exceptions to this natural law. You would be right. There are always exceptions. Over time, however, nature prevails. The more money at stake and the more FEAR in the people, the longer the “reordering” may take. Stop arguing the validity of the sentence and start being a better leader. Yea, BABY.
The key question here is how does your team see you?
Are you still going, going, going , whole heartedly toward mastering your craft, just like the perpetual “energizer bunny?”
Don’t tell me what you think, instead, ask your team to…
Tell me more, my friend.
Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 