Are you setting the leadership bar?

Seth Godin, in a recent post What's expected vs What's amazing, raised a provoking thought: 'you can raise the bar or you can wait for others to raise it, but it's getting raised regardless'.

Indeed. With tools like google, mobile internet devices, the new cyborg gadgets that someone's dreaming up, being information-less is unheard of in the business realm. And this bar is begin raised at an alarming rate. You're expected to know the background of your customers before you meet them, go the extra mile in figuring out what your customer or business partners need before they even realize it themselves. And as Godin points out, new tactics become old pretty quick, the bar-setters flex their muscles and the bar-catcher-uppers get scrambling.

But how about in the leadership arena? Sometimes the bar seems to move slowly. A completely different post by my friend Mac Lake caught my eye entitled Helping Others Win. Here Mac talks about a unique aspect of leadership that takes the limelight off you as leader as you invest in the win of others. He gives several great ways to do this; listening to their dreams, resourcing their ideas, helping them to network, developing their strengths. Mac's point here is great. How often do we look beyond the expected to-do's of leadership, or even the way we were led, to joyfully delight and ignite those following us by spotlighting their talents, being a catalyst in making their dreams a reality, putting their work before our own? A remarkable bar for leadership.

I'm drawn back again and again to Nancy Ortbergs's words at Leadership Network's Innovation3 conference, rebroadcast on Leadership Network's  THE SHOW, as she talked about truly innovative leaders are ones who put the younger leaders up on their shoulders, giving them the better view, and then cheering them on.

Truly this is a different way to lead, not always from the front, but sometimes from the middle or even from the back. Sometimes to not be seen at all. A leadership bar at a whole new level.

FYI, there's still time to register for the Upcoming Spotlight on Women's Leadership webinar. It's free. It's convenient. It's Feb 10th at 3pm central. Register here

Comments

[Jan Owen]

Sherry, I'm disappointed I won't be able to join in. I'll be on my way to India to do some teaching/training.....

I love this idea though, about helping others succeed. Let's just say that it resonates with me for many reasons. And even though I'm training other leaders, it's different from working with a staff and a team. This post kind of made me miss that.

[sherry]

Jan, how exciting!I know you're doing great things and I'm praying for you, for God's favor and blessings and for you to be dangerous for Him!