A leader's value goes beyond their individual contributions

While interviewing with a company today, I was talking to the Human Resources Director about a philosophy that I have. I told her that some people like to know that when they go on vacation that everything back at the office falls apart because they are not there to keep it together. It makes them feel that they are important and they think that is shows their worth to the organization and higher management. They want others to think; wow this place just cannot survive without so and so. These are the same people that think that knowledge is power and make sure that they are the only ones that know how to perform certain tasks because it makes them indispensable. Unfortunately these types of people do not enable the organization to grow or develop.

I told her I take the opposite approach. I want to know when I go on vacation that everything will run smoothly while I am gone. In order to make sure that will happen, I have helped establish or improved enough processes and procedures so that things carry on. I have also helped people increase their ability to take on responsibility and perform. My value as a leader is derived not just from what I contribute as an individual, but what I am able to do to help others raise the level of their ability to perform. I always have strived to leave people and places a little better than I found them and worked to take organizations to the next level.
I came across this quote by Walter Lippmann years ago, “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.”

How Did I End up Being a Leader?

I thought back and tried to remember my first experience as a leader. It certainly could be said that I was a leader when I was leading a team of 30 people developing software not long into my first job after college. Going back further, I could remember big roles that I took in school and in sports: positions in student government in both high school and college, being captain of various sports teams, and serving as a leader in student organizations, but those defined roles would not cover my experience. As far back as grade school when there were kids running around on the playground I would organize the game. When we would sit in class and everyone was grumbling because the teacher was asking us to do something that was really unfair, everyone would look to me to be the one to speak up and ask for a more equitable solution for the group. People would look to me because they knew I would be willing to do something, also because they were not willing to stick their own neck out. I think I gravitated toward leadership roles because I thrived on the challenge. It also helps that I have a predisposition to action. I like to get things done and see that the right things are happening.

It was in college that I remember making a conscience effort to learn how to be a better leader. There are elements to leadership that are both art and science. I love reading books on leadership and studying other leaders which helps with the science side. The best way to improve your art is to practice it, so I am always looking for leadership opportunities. Then sometimes you just have to take time to reflect on what you have learned and practiced to gain additional insight. I will always consider myself a student when it comes to learning about leadership.