Teach – Don’t Preach

We hear the word leader tossed around in sports, business, politics, and just about every other walk of life.

And every now and then, we hear someone described as a “born leader.”

I’ve never bought into that idea. I suspect leaders aren’t born . . . they’re taught. Usually by other leaders.

We learn leadership by watching someone who knows how to lead. And here’s something worth remembering: good leaders don’t preach leadership. They teach it . . . by example.

You can usually spot the wannabe leaders by the lack of people following them. They try to look and act like someone they’re not, hoping people will buy into the image.

And to be fair, some people find themselves in leadership positions without ever having been prepared for them. They may have talent, but they haven’t yet learned how to lead.

That reminds me of a book called The Peter Principle, which became a bestseller in the late 1960s. One of its central ideas was that people are often promoted until they reach their level of incompetence.

I saw a little of that firsthand while working at a radio station in the 1970s.

We had an opening for a program director, and the station owner had several candidates to choose from. When he announced his selection, I was surprised.

So I asked him what made him choose this particular fellow.

His answer? “I wanted someone with a little gray hair.”

Well, there you go.

The man hadn't campaigned for the job. He'd simply been thrust into it. And his time in that position was short.

That doesn't mean he lacked talent. He just hadn't developed into a leader yet. As it turned out, he went on to achieve considerable personal success in an area much better suited to his abilities.

I saw a different version of the same thing when I was in the military.

Our unit got a new member who slightly outranked the rest of us. He was appointed to head our department, and apparently, he thought his rank automatically made him a leader.

It didn't take long to find out otherwise.

His approach was to issue memos. Dictatorial little edicts telling people what to do, without offering much direction or guidance.

In other words, he had the authority to give orders, but he hadn't learned how to lead.

And there's a difference.

You can preach all you want, but if you don't lead by example, your flock won't fly in formation.

So, if you'd like to become a leader, here's a thought.

First, learn to be a good follower. Pay attention to people you admire. Watch how they handle responsibility, how they treat others, and how they respond when things don't go their way.

Look for common threads. What do these people have in common? What do they do that earns the respect and cooperation of others?

Then start putting those qualities into practice yourself.

You don't have to announce that you're a leader. You don't have to convince people you're a leader. And you certainly don't have to issue a bunch of memos to prove it.

Just do the work. Set the example. Treat people the way you'd like to be treated.

And don't be too surprised if, one day, someone notices what you're doing and hands you the reins.

Because the best way to teach leadership . . . is to demonstrate it.

All the best,

John