Recycled Leadership

I have benefitted over and over again from recycled leadership.

The people from whom I have learned the most about being a leader have been recycled leaders. Most of the places where I have been asked to put my own leadership into practice have been opportunities for me to recycle.

Our perception of leadership is about newness and innovation. Leaders have new ideas to spark new growth and motivation. Leaders bring new energy and new insights to make new progress. We seek leaders with initiative and fresh approaches, leaders with the latest skills who will take us to a new tomorrow.

The people who have taught me the most about leadership have been people who have faced these challenges before. Their depth of experience has helped them recognize their own leadership and appreciate how to put their skills to work in new ways.

They continue to learn and grow, while reassuring the people around them that we will be able to meet these challenges together. They gain wisdom from the mistakes they have made, put things together in new ways, and help us grow deeper as well as accomplishing our goals.

Recycled leadership may not be as shiny as the newly-minted variety. It takes time and effort to develop leadership that is recyclable.

Not all leadership can be recycled. Leadership needs to be refined and combined with new ingredients to recycle well. The lessons and value of experience need to be mixed with healthy amounts of listening, caring, and other new ingredients to create leadership that will stand the tests of being recycled. The recycled material needs to mix well with what is newer and fresher. Together, they can be stronger than they are separately.

How have you benefitted from recycled leadership?

How could you recycle your own leadership today?

[Image by annieo76]