I am listening to U2’s album titled Boy this morning and catching more of this artists’ worldview as I listen to a team of Four sing their song. Study U2 and you’ll learn more about leadership than you will ever gather from your leadership library regardless the author. U2’s lead singer,Bono, is ONE helluva leader. His idea of “hell on earth,” remember, is being surrounded by a team of yes men. He has taught his team to fight with him because of his worldview. You see, Bono believes he is “only as good as the arguments he gets.” What do you believe?
Listening to my friend, yesterday, describe his leader led me to think a bit more deeply about why so few leaders experience the kinda arguments Bono begets. The complexity of the human puzzle makes putting this together a long, pain staking process. The root reason, I believe, is clear.
The root is power.
Most leaders misuse power. Like Bono, they have their team in a “one up” position and they use it to their advantage. They withhold information. They demand obedience to their authority. Today, most leaders are bullshit artists who accomplish their objectives in subtle ways with rye smiles. They think they’re pulling it off because they get so little push back. The team, however, knows better. They hold back on this kinda leader. The leader does not fight fair so neither does the team. This team may have a few hits, may make some money, and may last for quite some time depending on the market. They will not become BTL. They will not become built to last…
There are no neutral investments when it comes to you and your leadership; either you are getting better or you are getting worse. 40, U2’s anthem from back in the day, is all about God’s promise found in Psalm 40. God gives us all power beyond human position. He alone teaches humanity to fight for what is right. He alone teaches humanity how to sing their song, let others sing theirs, and form teams of four and even more…
Few, it turns out, sing their song. Few simply put one foot in front of the other. Few sing a new song. Few author their new song while the current song is part of the top 40. Few, make their footsteps firm. Few, set their feet upon the rock. Few leaders are given the gift of good arguments. Why? Few leaders teach their team how to hit them. Few leaders fight fair. Few leaders understand the source of real power. Few leaders trust the team, first. Few leaders, turns out, deserve anything more than some kinda bullshit team that tells them exactly what they wanna hear.
What kinda team Y.O.U. building ’round you?
BUILT TO LEAD 