Leadership

Leadership is the act of making others effective in achieving an aim.

Leadership is not about being great yourself.

Leadership does involve more than making others effective. Leaders need to know what needs to be done, and then make others effective, based on that knowledge. As Dr. Deming said about any situation:

It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best.

Leadership is not about getting a good performance appraisal. Leadership is not about making your numbers. Leadership is not about following the latest fad. Unfortunately, in my view, far too many managers fail to focus on making others better. Instead, probably largely influenced by performance appraisal mentality, they focus on making the case for why they, personally, are valuable.

Related: Deming on being destroyed by best efforts6 Leadership CompetenciesThe Leader’s HandbookSeven Leadership Leverage PointsHow to ImprovePeople are Our Most Important AssetBring Me ProblemsDr. W. Edwards Deming quotes

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4 Responses to Leadership

  1. Amen John. Unfortunately that's the way most managers are brought up. It's the way they are rewarded. It's the way their bosses were/are rewarded. It's a tough cycle to break. Keep battling.

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