Leadership is Both a Window and a Mirror

There have been times when I have known exactly what kind of leader I wanted to be.

Someday, I will be a leader who is able to draw on the best qualities of Steve Jobs, Barack Obama, and Chris Christie. With more practice, I will lead like a combination of Hillary Clinton, Julia Child, and An San Suu Kyi. When I have learned more, I will be sort of a mixture of Captain Mal and Shepherd Book.

I would become a leader by becoming someone else, by copying what has worked for other people. Everything will be great, once I get things to work together in the right combination.

Other times, I have not really known what kind of leader to become. I tended to show people the kind of leadership I thought they wanted.

Essentially, I saw leadership as a form of following. I either followed inspiring examples of other people’s leadership, or I followed the people who wanted to be following me. Though I learned valuable lessons from both, neither is true leadership.

Slowly, by learning hard lessons with much trial and error, I came to understand that my leadership does not come from other people. People may recognize and appreciate my leadership, but I can only truly lead by knowing my true self and sharing myself with the people around me.

Leadership is both a window and a mirror. My leadership gives people, including me, the opportunity to see more clearly. As a leader, I help people see our shared values and our own deep potential more clearly. As a leader, I give people a view of where we can go together.

Leadership comes from knowing myself well enough to share our common vision and reflect our common values.

How is your leadership a window and a mirror?

Are you leading, or are you following?

[Image by e³°°°]