Leader-by-title or Leader-by-focus?

I was asked during a Leadership Development session if I had ever met someone who really wasn’t leadership material. My response, after consideration, was “I think so – yes – and it wasn’t necessarily terminal”. I continued that it has to do with their perspective and what they focused on – rather than education or even experience.

Effective leaders are in a place where the end goal, the route in between, the risks and hazards ahead are clearly in focus.

They can focus on every member of the team, recognizing strengths and hesitations, anticipating how each will handle the road ahead, and they find ways to mitigate the hazards so the team members are successful.

They are out front defending the team members and protecting them so they can get the jobs done. They are beside and behind, providing guidance and boundaries so hazards are minimized.

They are the ones who can be heard to say “We are successful when we all succeed” and at the same time, see that each team member accepts accountability for their part of success.

Yes, I have known individuals who weren’t “leadership material” at that point in time – they were individuals whose focus was inward. They seemed most concerned about how they were seen and perceived.

When focusing on how they appears to others, their vision is limited; like driving while watching what is in the rear-view mirror. (I was rear ended once this way)

If the primary focus is their own success, perspective is somewhat short; like driving while watching themselves in the rear-view mirror. (I was front ended once because of this!)

Effective leaders focus outward: On the team and its members, on the path forward, and on the end goal.