IS THE MEASURE OF LEADERSHIP IN THE BOTTOM LINE?
What is being a leader all about? Is it about contribution? Is it about leaving things in a better state than you found them? Is it about growing the people around you? Is it about decision making? Is it about creating a stronger bottom line? Is it about helping people realise their potential? It is probably a little bit of each of these things and many more.
One of the key attributes, I believe, of good leadership and of great leadership is found in the people who grow more leaders. Not necessarily leaders in their own image, they help people to see what is possible in themselves and to realise this potential not only for their own good, but for the good of the people around them and for the good of the world at large.
When my dad was a young man, he was a primary school teacher, and I believe he was a good one. He had a strong sense of care and compassion for his students, in addition to educating them. But looking ahead, he realised that he could create a better life for his family by joining the army and becoming an educator within the Australian Army. So that’s what he did. He continued to use his skills in teaching and educating, and making that difference, while also making a bigger difference for his family, through the opportunities this career choice would create for all the members of his family.
I always thought of my dad as a leader. He certainly introduced me to a lot of the concepts of leadership, which I have explored in the years of my own schooling and education and higher education, my own corporate career and the work I do now.
I remember one of the most significant programmes of work my father was involved in was to lead the development of a whole new approach to education within the Australian army. It was a massive project that spanned several years and was accomplished. Resulting in significant differences in the outcomes from the different streams of education in that army arena. He was certainly proud of that, but I don’t think this was the thing of he was most proud.
Over the years, he has spoken about the many people he worked with. The many people he was fortunate enough to lead. He would relate conversations and experiences he had had with them and reflect on their achievements. That was something he was proud of.
“The most essential work of the leader is to create more leaders.”
- Mary Parker Follett, American author and sociologist
There was one individual he worked with, Bill. Bill was a very smart, very erudite officer in the education corps. These two worked closely together for a few years, with Bill reporting to my dad. Even when they no longer worked together, they maintained a strong collegiate relationship and friendship. And I believe this was beneficial to them both for many years.
In some ways, I think Bill was my dad’s protege. He invested a lot of time. He shared a lot of his own wisdom. He was a sounding board for Bill. Bill was a great challenger of my dad, asking the hard questions. And I think they each made the other better for that relationship. They both grew as leaders.
When my dad retired from the army, he was a lieutenant colonel and had completed 25 years of service. Even after starting his own consulting business, he continued to support Bill. I know he was incredibly proud when Bill’s career surpassed his own, with Bill’s appointment as Director of the Royal Australian Army Education Corps.
Bill performed so well in the role of Director that when he planned to retire, he was asked to stay on for a further four years. (If you read my book The New Leader, you will see Bill is featured here.)
I think leadership and the contribution we make is not only about our personal contribution as a leader, though this is important, it is in the leaders we grow around us. The people who go on to do even more and make an even bigger contribution than we made. This is the legacy true leaders leave behind. Growing more leaders, who grow more leaders.
I’d love to know your thoughts.
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