Leadership is Responsibility

There are 4 simple concepts to a true leadership in an organization.

1. A leader has followers.
2. Popularity is not leadership, results are.
3. Leaders are highly visible, and set examples.
4. Leadership is not defined by rank, pay, benefits, or titles.

Drucker recounts a high school history teacher characterizing World War I as a “War of Incompetence” because, as the teacher explained, “not enough generals were killed.” Too many “leaders” stayed behind the lines and let others do the fighting and dying. There are not enough direct involvement by leadership in the details happening in the front lines.

Effective leaders delegate; But never delegate the one thing that will set the standard. Effective leaders and managers lead by doing it. Leaders who delegate the core, central function of their enterprise will lose the respect of their employees.

Look for ways in which, you, the manager and leader, can achieve your managerial duties of organizing the overall direction of your organization or division while still maintaining an eye, ear, and hand in the day-to-day work of your organization’s front line employees. Even if you have to schedule 30 minutes a day to do the “grunt” work, do it. You’ll not only retain the respect of your employees, but will also find that you can plan even better for your organization’s future as you continually experience the day-to-day challenges your staff faces.