We tend to think that good leadership is about our qualities as individuals. The media also emphasizes the idea of the ‘powerful personality’ that drives the success of prominent leaders.
But, as it happens, leadership isn’t all about you as “the leader” — separate from (or worse, better than) others, once you’ve proved your special personal abilities.
It’s actually mostly about others.
Hubert Joly, former CEO of Best Buy, wrote in the Harvard Business Review about his 5 main principles of leadership. They are:
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Be clear about your purpose.
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Be clear about your role. (Direct quote from Joly: “Your role as a leader is to create the right environment for others to flourish in support of [a] company’s purpose.”)
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Be clear about whom you serve (“Hint: It’s not yourself.”)
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Be driven by values.
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Be authentic.
You’ll notice what these have in common: they’re not really about “you” per se, or even about your individual qualities, strengths, or abilities.
They’re about how we show up with others, and how we consider others when taking action.
Joly’s leadership principles turn the focus not on ourselves, but outward. On our values in a society, our role in a larger organization. Serving others.
If you approach leadership as less about you, and more about others, what would you do differently?
If you think considering the needs of others will hold you back, the truth is much to the contrary: in business, in our work, in almost every aspect of life, it’s hard to get very far on our own.
We need others for almost any endeavor or goal to come to fruition. Imagine, for instance, trying to host a podcast without someone to produce and edit it — or someone to listen to it?
Even the most groundbreaking pioneer needs others onboard with them if they want to fulfill their objectives.
Next time you’re having an internal conversation with yourself on how you can show up with more leadership — turn your perspective to those around you.
Who are they? What do they need or desire from the work / project / pursuit you’re all engaged in? What would help them bring their best selves to the work?
Leadership not about just optimizing your own strengths, but helping others improve theirs.
What would you do if the aim wasn’t to optimize or grow as a leader for your own sake, but because you want to contribute? That will get you closer to an answer to some of life’s toughest questions about how to spend your time, and where to devote your energies.
Note that this doesn’t only apply to someone with a title. Each of us has the opportunity and the responsibility to lead others, to serve others. That’s how companies, communities, and societies — all of us, as humans — can thrive.
~Mary Clare
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Interested in leadership principles and helping your team and others thrive? Charlie’s book, Team Habits, provides a host of actionable tips anyone (regardless of title or role) can use to improve an organization. Our other publication, Better Team Habits, digs deeper into these ideas.
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PF Productivity Coaching: Maghan is opening two PF Productivity Coaching spots. These 1:1 sessions will help boost your productivity so you can live a more thriving life, because it’s not about getting MORE done, but getting to more of what matters most — your best work. You’ll get a custom plan to help tame your pile of projects, prioritize according to your values, set and maintain boundaries, build a schedule that works for you, and more. Head here to learn more and book your discovery session.
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The second installment of “How to Take Back the Vision of the Creator Economy” by
, and on Tara’s Substack and Podcast What Works, landed, as we mentioned last week. Read below for more 👇