Leadership

I see so many young men and women getting into management positions and told they need to become leaders. How many times do you see anyone explain to them just what that means?

I see the same new managers making the same mistakes over and over again. I even see their managers use a magician's approach to leadership in trying to teach them. Smoke and mirror's.

There is an old saying that," the fish stink from the head down". It took quite awhile to truly appreciate that saying and I find new meaning every day.

From day one I was taught that you build trust with those you lead through honesty and integrity. Yet, as many of us try to pass on those values to others there are many who are teaching leadership through mis-direction, half-truths and "spinning" situations to make them more "positive".

A true leader worries about his people and cares for them; but when did that become lying to them to spare their feelings or creating positive spin on a situation to keep up morale? This is a short sighted and possibly fatal mistake.

You should always remain positive that you will weather the storm. However, that does not translate to telling them it is sunny when the storm is blowing full force. This erodes the trust you have built with the people who report to you as well as your superiors and peers. It erodes the foundation leadership is built on.

To often today we hear that we need to be positive about situations. However, we need to be positive that we can overcome the obstacles set in the path. Not to paint a happy face on the rock in our path.

This is similar to the way you raise children. You allow them to feel the pain, or to experience the problem and see it for what it is. This way you develop in them a feeling of accomplishment and also develop their abilities. This creates a self-reliant individual who needs less coaching and becomes self managing.

This is good in the home as well as in the work place. Developing the talents and abilities of those you associate with. By hiding the problems or issues behind smoke and mirrors you are doing a disservice to those who rely on you (the organization and the people you are responsible for). You send a message that they are not capable enough to handle the situation or that you just do not respect them as adults. If you do not respect them how can you expect anything in return?

Well that's my thought of the day.