True leaders are inconvenient. True leaders tend to challenge the status quo when it is no longer moving a project forward. They disturb complacency, rigid systems and overly comfortable management that are simply too slow to adapt to growth and ever-changing business and cultural environments.
True leaders tend to bring the spirit and ideas of innovation, which may be very inconvenient for cultures that became too comfortable to “just be”.
The spirit of growth drives true leaders to challenge what doesn’t work – processes, relationships, even their own management if they see that it doesn’t openly support progressive initiatives.
And they usually have a good sense of what to challenge now, what to challenge later, and what not to challenge at all. They are not overly cautious, but not ruthless either.
True leaders are relentless in seeking optimal solutions, because one of their most important roles is transformation. They have a talent for seeing growth potential and paths to success. They are naturally drawn to move in those directions. But one of the other recognizable qualities of a true leader is that they try to avoid implementing optimal solutions at people’s expense. To the true leaders, people are the most important part of any project/business/venture. To them, people are not just means, they are the reason.
Yes, one of the main roles of the true leaders is to drive innovation, but one that’s not less important is that they are usually natural in creating the environments that help the innovation to bloom. Ideas are welcome, especially unusual ones. People with initiative are appreciated. True leaders notice opportunities for growth and potential, especially in their people. They notice initiative, leadership skills, desire to take on responsibility. Because unlike some managers who only want authority, true leaders truly want expansion, transformation.
True leaders speak their mind, even when their ideas are not immediately landing. Very often, they are ahead of their time. True leaders know that new, progressive approaches may sound nonsensical in the beginning. But with time, they become reality. This doesn’t mean that true leaders are never scared to share. But they understand that someone must do it. So, why not them?
True leaders are not afraid to take on more – responsibility, workload, workday length, support of others. They are good listeners, and people naturally want to come to them and share – work struggles, or even personal ones. However, while they always strive to support their people, true leaders know that it’s best to not overwhelm them with their own struggles. Many of them know never to complain “down”. That’s why…
It’s always lonely at the top. Not just because rare ones get up there. But just because there is usually nowhere “up” they can confide in. Because very few truly understand what it means – to be a true leader. Because there is a lot they went through and learned to get up there. Because…
True leaders learn continually. And not because they are knowledge junkies, but because they know what they don’t know. And it’s a lot. Because they are humble about their own knowledge and about their own leadership skills. But what they do know, – is that true leadership is not something you can read a good tiny book “How to manage from your heart” – and boom – you just become a true leader overnight.
It would be great if it happened like that. But before anything, true leaders first learn to become true followers. Because it’s impossible to lead well without knowing the following from the inside.
