Leadership doesn’t have a nice little set of rules. Everything that is promoted as a “rule” that has to be followed to become a leader can have many interpretations. In fact, the complete opposite of what the rules say can be as useful as what the original says. That is what this article is about: Contradictions that appear to be mutually exclusive, but really aren’t. These contradictions will make a better leader of you if you put them in practice:

Contradiction #1

Think about your legacy
What do you you want people to think about your leadership 10, 20, 30, or 100 years from now? Do you even want to be remembered? Or are you content with just contributing your grain of salt? Answers to these questions might help you in clarifying the principles you want to lead by. It isn’t the same being remembered for your cunning than being remembered for your sense of humor. Think about it, and make sure everything you do now, adds to that legacy you have envisioned.

Don’t think about your legacy
If you focus too much on what others will think about you in the future in some other place, then you won’t be able to focus on being here now. Thinking about your legacy for too long can distract you from what needs to be done to get there. Contemplate this projection for just long enough to capture the essence, and then immediately start working on getting there. Also, don’t get caught in the trap of concentrating in just your legacy, when you primarily need to be concentrating in how that legacy impacts your followers, your organization, or society in general.

Contradiction #2

Be a mentor
This “legacy” refers to a set of principles as much as it does to personal success. And there is no better way to perpetuate this set of principles than by promoting them. The way to do this is to become a mentor to others, and developing their talents. These pupils, if taught well, will be evangelists of your school of thought, leadership style, and ideas. If they differ from you, then you have indirectly contributed to creating other perspectives which might benefit everyone. For that reason, you need not be afraid of having your pupils pass you by in terms of position or expertise, since that would be a sign of your own prowess.

Don’t be a mentor
When most people hear the word “mentor”, they might think of a classic teacher-student dynamic where the teacher talks and the student takes notes. If that is what a mentor is, then I don’t want you to be one. The best way to lead is by example. Become what you want your pupils to become. Remember: Actions are easier to remember than words. And they’re easier to imitate too. Instead of telling what to do, show how to do it. Instead of mentoring, demonstrate.

Contradiction #3

Go with the flow
Many leaders or would-be leaders find it tempting to be a contrarian just for the sake of it. Don’t be one of them! There’s no problem with doing what others are doing if it will help. Having this ‘go with the flow’ attitude will also permit you to be more willing and able to change with the times, and adapt more easily to those changes. Taking advantage of those tides can be very beneficial to your organization or mission.

Don’t go with the flow
True leadership is based on a set of principles that guides your organization, be it a school, a church, a corporation, or your own family. This is what Stephen Covey refers to when talking about Principle-Centered Leadership. If these principles are solid and worthwhile, then they will not change in the midst of different fashions. They will remain in place throughout every decision you will make. Consequently, this will mean that you won’t just “go with the flow” whenever the “flow” goes in another direction. Apart from the all-important principles, you also need to find something that characterizes you. People need to be able to differentiate you from everyone else in your field. Followers will remember leaders who are ahead of the pack. In fact, leaders are leaders precisely because they are different from the also-rans. Be unique in some way.

Contradiction #4

Make it BIG
Big things are easier to remember than small things. Actions that make a big splash in your organization and drive a point home will make a big impact. Of course, you want it to be a big positive splash, but big nonetheless. Big sometimes means bold. Perhaps you have to speak out against an injustice that nobody dared to speak out against. Or maybe you could fly an airplane carrying a message behind it. If a message is worth communicating, then do what needs to be done to communicate it. Everyone remembers big.

Make it small
Small details are very valuable for many people. Maybe you think that smiling to your janitor didn’t have any important effect on him or her. But those supposedly insignificant events are many times the most significant. One of the best ways to influence the lives of followers or peers is to create joy in their lives. That seemingly irrelevant smile might be the high point of the janitor’s day or even week. It doesn’t take too much effort to simply listen, respect, and encourage. Everyone remembers small.

Contradiction #5

Think long-term
Every leader needs a long-term vision. In fact, if you don’t have it, then most probably aren’t even a leader. It is the central purpose of leadership to provide a big-picture perspective for whatever or whoever is being led. Administering the more technical and immediate day-to-day tasks should belong to the realm of the administrator, who is not necessarily a leader. A true leader has the capacity to serve as the compass of the following.

Think short-term
Every leader needs short-term vision. In order to reach a long-term goal, you need to put into place a set of more immediate steps. These steps have to be taken now so that a goal becomes a reality. Some events need to happen before. In fact, the mark of a true leader is his or her ability to coordinate events in the future with events in the present. Those events need to be made compatible.

For the second part of this installment, go to 5 More Contradictions That Will Make You a Better Leader

The Art of Leading

http://www.artofleading.net

Tags: communication, contradiction, Goals, leadership, leading, Mentorship, Recognition, relationships

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