When it comes to leadership, I’m no fan of Seth Godin. Although he’s a marketing genius, he recently phoned in this awful blog post.
Leaders lead.
Is that too simple?
Writers write. If you want to be a writer, write. And be sure to have people read what you write.
And leaders? Leaders lead.
If you want to be a leader, go lead.
Thank god this observation was free. I would have gone through the roof if I had read that in one of his books or paid money to hear him say that. Can you imagine someone saying,
- If you want to be an airline pilot, go fly.
- If you want to be a surgeon, go cut.
- If you want to be a cook, get in the kitchen and make me a pie.
Doesn’t quite work that way.
While there is no secret formula for leadership, there are recommended behaviors and best practices.
And practice makes perfect.
If you want to be a leader, here are five things you can do – straightaway – to make an impact on your organization and on the world.
- Have ideas. Full stop.
- Solve problems. If you don’t have the skills, invest money and time in people who do.
- Take risks. Be the model of brave and bold behavior.
- Openly address fear and failure. You demonstrate strength when you talk about all potential outcomes.
- Kindness kills competition. Good leaders know that the key differentiator between a successful business and a failed business is character. Plenty of assholes make money; however, men and women who infuse capitalism with humanism build legacies.
And if you’re a leader who isn’t concerned about leaving a meaningful and important legacy behind, then you’re no leader at all.
Now if you want to be a better leader, go lead.
