No matter how you say it:
- When the rubber meets the road;
- The proof is in the pudding; or
- Actions speak louder than words
the truth is, we will never know who will be an effective leader until that person is given power. Then the test of leadership begins. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
You see, even though an individual with leadership potential may possess numerous desirable leadership attributes, from incredible vision to great communication skills, those attributes fade into insignificance if the “leader” fails to remember the role of a leader.
A leader is only a leader when others say she is one. A leader is only a leader when she keeps the primary responsibility of leadership clearly in mind, and that role is to lead a team, company, organization, community or country toward its future- not hers.
We’ve all experienced working with someone who changed once she was given a taste of power. Suddenly, the person who used to work so well and openly with us, becomes controlling, uncommunicative, and egocentric. She is now entitled, all-powerful, and right in her interpretation of strategic issues. The team’s insights and support she had sought and welcomed, are now wrong and unwanted.
Power is an amazing test of character. Power is an amazing test of leadership and it’s an amazing test each of us as leaders needs to undertake ourselves every now and then. So the next time you hear your team members or colleagues say, “You’ve changed” or they seem to “block” your actions as they never used to before, stop and ask yourself a few honest questions:
- “What have I done as the leader to cause such conflict and frustration?”
- “Have I changed or have they?”
- “Is what I’m trying to accomplish truly right for the organization or just right for me and my legacy?”
For solid, effective leaders, the answers to the above will probably indicate a need to communicate more clearly or renegotiate strategies. However, for a leader corrupted by power, the answers to the above – the honest answers to the above – will indicate a loss of leadership purpose and focus. It’s time to acknowledge the test and become the leaders others need us to be. It’s time to appreciate the test of leadership power.
Copyright MMX – Liz Weber, CMC, CSP – Weber Business Services, LLC – www.WBSLLC.com +1.717.597.8890
Liz supports clients with strategic and succession planning, as well as leadership training and executive coaching. Learn more about Liz on LinkedIn!
