Leadership is setting the tone. It is all about modeling the behavior. To be a leader is to do the very things you ask of others. It would be an ugly world if no one stepped up, if no one set the tone and if no one modeled the behavior. You don’t need a title or a salary to be a leader or to do these things.
Why do I do what I do? Why do I write, teach and demonstrate the things I do? Because I want to leave it better than I found it, whatever “it” might be. It can be people, places, tasks and things.
It would be an ugly world if:
Everyone walked by trash lying on the floor.
Everyone left their mess behind.
Everyone gave a blank stare instead of a welcoming smile.
Everyone thought someone else will take care of it.
Everyone made snide, mean and devaluing remarks.
Everyone said I don’t need to do that because it is job security for someone else.
Everyone said it is not my job.
Leaders are accountable for themselves, for those they lead and for what they are (and are not) responsible for. They hold themselves accountable even when no one else is. Leaders hold themselves accountable when no one is watching. Leaders do things for others even when others cannot do anything for them. They do things for others especially when others cannot do anything for them.
It begets it, whatever it is. When you leave it better than you found it, a majority of those that come behind you will, at the very least, leave it that way too. But when a leader comes behind you they will leave it even better and this is what stops the world from being an ugly place.
Pick up the trash, pick up your mess, give a welcoming smile. The only one who achieves job security is the leader who steps up and says “because it is my job to leave it better than I found it”.
Last updated on November 11th, 2018 at 06:31 am
