If you are anything like me, you are living in a world that focuses on conforming to the expectations of others. It is a fact that certain standards and rules need to be adhered to if we are to have a healthy productive society. However, if we look beyond simple standards, we see a culture that works hard to conform the people into predetermined expectations.
This has caused damage along our journey of life. Few of us have been coached to discover the uniqueness buried within. In fact, few would be aware that there is anything special about us. This has crept into the workplace. It is normal to accept that just doing the job is what working is all about. We tend to go through the days doing what is required to get our paycheque, while greatly anticipating our weekends or evenings away from work. This is a sad way to live and I don’t believe that it has to stay this way.
If you are a leader, I want to challenge your thinking on this matter. Have you considered that those who work under your leadership have hidden talents and unique abilities of which you are unaware? In fact, problems that arise in your organization may be answered by the hidden uniqueness in your people.
It is culturally normal for leaders to gather around board room tables or have strategic meetings that center on how they are going to fix problems or find new innovative ways to do business. It is normal because this is how we have been trained. It makes sense because, as a leader, we think, “Well, I am a leader and this is what I am paid to do and expected to do.” This thinking needs to be reformed to a new way of thinking.
My definition of leadership is,
Great LEADERS are those who create a culture that BRINGS OUT THE BEST in their PEOPLE and INSPIRE them to achieve MAXIMUM results.
~Dr. Steve McEvoy
Did you notice the emphasis in this statement? Great leaders pull out the excellence that is within their people. Innovations, concepts and ideas are buried within the people who are under your direct leadership. As long as leaders view themselves as the primary answer to their organization’s health, the potential of the organization will remain untapped.
Science is Here to Help
Science is giving us great insight into the fact that every human brain is unique and incredibly untapped in its potential. Many never even begin to tap into their potential because they have not been trained to look within to discover their excellence. This has influenced the way we lead.
As leaders, it is far too normal to perpetrate a culture that says, “it’s all about me”. Sometimes this is overtly communicated – we all have seen examples of really bad leadership. However, most times it is more covertly or subconsciously communicated. It is easy for leaders to be so wrapped up in the job of leading that we forget that those we are leading are people. We also forget that our people are engaging day to day with the product or service and actually may have knowledge and insights that we do not have.
The sad truth is that it is easy for a leader to think, “I am too busy to draw from what is within my people, I have work that I need to get done.”
When we discover that every person is unique, and we reform our thinking to realize that the innovations come from our people, we are on the edge of a revolution in the workplace.
Imagine a workplace where the people knew that the leaders recognize their expertise. Imagine a workplace where leaders consistently engaged their people in solving problems or finding innovative solutions. Imagine a workplace where the leaders worked hard at finding the excellence that is buried within their people and were willing to align their job expectations to this excellence.
Morale would improve. Absenteeism would lessen. Staff turnover would decrease. Healthy relationships would emerge. People would transition from hating work to valuing their work.
I am advocating for the creation of Who Am I? cultures. This is a culture where everyone is incredibly important. This is a culture where people are allowed to begin to look within and discover areas of their excellence that has been hidden for years.
Do you want to be a great leader? Then consider what greatness looks like. Consider that your people respect and admire you as a leader because you have worked relentlessly to pull out the best that is within them.
Arise to the challenge of greatness. Our world is desperate for great leaders like you.
Dr. Steve McEvoy has his doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Development. Dr. Steve with his partner Randy Linzel are co-founders of byDesign Group. ByDesign Group is a team of specialists who are committed to “Leading organizational transformation for breakthrough results.”
There is Excellence Buried in Your Organization