Pssst, want a leadership silver bullet?
by Miki SaxonThese days (especially these days) managers spend time, energy and money (their company’s and their own) in an effort to move from manager to ‘leader’. They study examples and best practices, read books, attend seminars and classes, take advanced degrees, check out software, turn to the spiritual (if so inclined)—you name it, someone’s tried it.
Everywhere you turn you hear/read about how you need to be a ‘leader’ to get ahead, otherwise you’ll end up a <gasp> follower.
You probably won’t believe me if I say that the basic premise is bunk.
The dream is to find a silver bullet—all you need to do is say/do THIS—but it ain’t gonna happen.
But here’s the well kept secret—you already possess the closest thing to a silver bullet that exists and it’s all in your mind.
That’s right, it’s your MAP and, like a snowflake, it’s totally unique—yours, and yours alone.
And the magic that turns the bullet from lead to silver is your ability to consciously choose to change your MAP through your own awareness.
How cool is that? The very thing that frees you to soar and it’s not only yours, but also within your control.
Who could ask for anything more?
So never forget!
You are the silver bullet!
Your comments—priceless
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 am
Miki,
Ssssh! I earn my living by helping people to transist from management to leadership.
You are right though the transition is rather simple once people really get it. Leadership comes from within and requires an adjustment in attitudes and values along with the exhibition of some new behaviors.
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hi Simon, You and many others:) Leadership is an industry (see Monday’s post).
I’m not sure that I agree that the transition (assuming there is one) is all that easy, since it often requires fundamental MAP changes and those are anything but easy. It’s when the chips are down and the discomfort high that you’ll know if, in fact, there was a transition. Unfortunately, the teachers are rarely around at that time.
Thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:05 am
Hey Miki,
Simple but not easy was my point. The fundamental MAP changes you refer to are about changing people’s attitudes, values and behaviors.
That’s what I meant about people really getting it – and of course, many never do. The acid test, as you suggest, is when the chips are down.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:38 am
Hey Miki
I’d just thought I’d also let you know that this article is featured as one of the top five posts in our weekly review of management and leadership articles.
http://experientiallearningcentre.blogspot.com/
Keep up the great work.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Simon, my apologies. I meant to write ‘simple’ and wrote ‘easy’ instead. They so often go together in what people are told. But I’m not even sure that we should call it ‘simple’.
Changing MAP (mindset, attitude, philosophy™) is certainly doable, but neither simple nor easy. Before a person can change they must recognize the need for that change.
What happens when the change required in the workplace goes against a person’s fundamental beliefs? A client was faced with this exact situation. It’s a bit long to handle here, but I’ll post it Thursday. I hope you’ll come back to discuss it further.
Thanks for including the post in your weekly review, I am honored to be included in that company.
November 6th, 2008 at 4:41 am
[…] week I wrote Pssst, want a leadership silver bullet? and Simon Cooper started a conversation saying in part, “You are right though the transition […]