Leadership is a strange social wonder. The fact that free human beings routinely choose to follow other human beings blows my mind. The definition of authority is the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience...but that’s not what I’m talking about here. Authority typically exists within established structures such as business organizations, clubs, governments, and the military. When you strip away all of the rules, policies, and formal consequences, leadership reigns as king. I’m talking about that strange internal force that causes humans to genuinely want to support, sacrifice, and even take significant risks based on what someone else simply asked them to do. Why do we allow others to lead us? What do excellent leaders have that makes our minds sharply focus when they speak? What do they do that makes us ready and willing to follow them, even when we really do not have to? Though the nuances of what qualities leaders possess are likely endless, there is one thing that I’ve personally experienced time and time again: Leaders Initiate.
Leaders Initiate Action
Everyone was exhausted. We’d spent the last three days hiking, sprinting, lifting, shooting, challenging our brains, and endlessly sweating. It was a training event, and though there was still work to be done, the most physically challenging part was over. What a relief!? We were a little bit ahead of schedule and found ourselves resting comfortably against various trees with very little small talk but lots of chewing and eating going on. This went on for a while...then, it went on for a while longer.
It was no longer about recovery; this was about passively avoiding the inevitable next step - dreadful cleaning. We still needed to fill holes, pick up trash, wipe down and load equipment, etc. That’s when it happened. A baby-faced young man who had probably learned to file his own taxes less than one year ago just stood up, said “alright, up and at ‘em” and began the dreaded task. Within the next 60 seconds, everyone was following suit. The best part was that this young man had the authority to tell literally no one what to do. He had something better. He possessed leadership. No one had to listen to him, but we all did so at that moment. His internal qualities of leadership were expressed through external action. In that small action, he proved that he was the man in the wilderness who was willing to step up and do what needed to be done. Leaders initiate by taking action. They overcome the trap of comfort and lead us in choosing purpose over pleasure. “Up and at ‘em.”
Leaders Seek the Burden and Bear It
I like to put my kids into challenging but inconsequential situations just to see what they will do. Aside from having conversations with them, it’s another way for me to try and discover who they are and what goes on in their crazy little minds. On this particular occasion, we were on a trip to pick up some gardening materials for the new raised garden in our backyard. I handed my younger son a nicely sized bag of soil. “Carry this”, I commanded him in that fatherly voice that means “you have no choice.” I was positive that this bag wasn’t too heavy for him to lift, but was definitely too heavy for him to carry for more than a few minutes. This was excellent. Right on cue, I started to hear the sighs and moans of struggle. Then, I heard words from his brother (2 years older) that still make me proud as I write this, “Let’s switch, I’ll carry it.”
At that moment, my older son won a small bit of loyalty from his younger brother. He accomplished this by taking it upon himself to carry the heavier burden before anyone had to ask. Leaders inspire others to follow them by demonstrating their willingness to bear the heavy burdens. When they do so of their own accord, it generates that strange social phenomenon that makes people want to follow them despite not being forced to. I’ve personally experienced this with a friend of mine who spent hours with me over the course of several weeks helping me get into shape for a fitness test despite being unbelievably busy himself. He knew that I needed someone and decided that he was going to be that person. I’ll never forget it. Whatever the circumstance, when a person chooses to step up and bear the burden, that person wins the hearts of others.
Leaders Own Mistakes
The first time that I witnessed someone with authority admit and take ownership for a mistake, he was no longer merely a man with authority, he was a leader. Why? Because it confirmed some very important aspects of his character. It confirmed for me that he genuinely had the desire to do the right thing. It confirmed that he was trustworthy. There was no need to preserve his ego or to hide the fact that he was actually a mere mortal like me. Instead, he was committed to achieving truly meaningful victory. I believe that excellence cannot be achieved without a deeply rooted commitment to acknowledging mistakes. You can’t fight a monster if you never turn around and face it. This is an area where being the one to initiate may be more difficult. We mere mortals are certainly vulnerable to simply not seeing our own mistakes. Whether they identify it themselves, or the mistake is brought to light by someone else, the most important thing is that leaders are willing to face the truth and own the process of overcoming shortfalls.
True professionals initiate the process of taking ownership by actually seeking out their mistakes. They seek feedback from people who they trust and respect, even those who they might find disagreeable. They spend time alone to examine their own habits and character. A leader who does this can be powerful indeed.
Reflection
Will I be the one who says “Up and at ‘em” and inspires people to take action? Will I be the one who says, “I’ll carry it” and takes on the burden when it matters the most? Can I face my mistakes unflinchingly and prove myself to be genuine and trustworthy? Well, I sure hope so. I believe that leading and being led well is one of the most beautiful aspects of the human experience. It generates energy from within the heart and produces growth, force, strength, and unbreakable bonds. Furthermore, the treasured qualities of leadership are demonstrated in countless situations ranging from the daily monotony to the most dynamic and challenging situations. Who are the leaders that you admire most? What habits of leadership light a fire within you? I encourage you to take some time this week and think about this strange social wonder that helps uplift us all.