Blog about Leadership

The Change in Focus

The lifelong timeline of a leader includes an important shift in focus and measuring success for this shift is well articulated by Jack Welch, the notable, former CEO of GE.

Leadership quote from Jack Welch:
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

Developing Leadership Potential

In the development phase, which starts “today” and continues lifelong, the focus is selfish in a sense. It’s about the leader – the leader’s knowledge, wisdom, understanding, communication skills, people skills, and the leader’s ability to influence.

The Practice of Leadership

The leading phase starts “tomorrow” and continues for as long as the leader is able to lead whether by position and/or by influence. The focus is on those you lead. The followers are not merely followers for I take the same position as Ralph Nader who stated, “I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers .” It may be better to say, the success of a leader is all about growing leaders.

For Success Today

• Your focus should be on developing your leadership potential.

For Success Tomorrow

• Your focus should be on developing the leadership potential of others.

Whatever your viewpoint of Ralph Nader, the gentleman has articulated an important point for leaders.

Leadership quote from Ralph Nader:
“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers .”

 Leadership is not about positions of power, building an entourage, coercion, or dominance.  Leadership is about mentoring, guiding, developing, and empowering.  It is about opening doors of opportunity, not getting everyone in a straight line.

 No individual in and of himself possess all the characteristics necessary to run a nation, an organization, or even a team.  A great leader knows how to surround himself with the great leaders of tomorrow that possess their own strengths, their own perspectives, and widen the knowledge and experience of the group or team.

 Ralph Nader starts correctly.  Leaders beget more leaders.

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“I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.”