Why leadership isn’t about titles and selfies

Leadership isn’t about titles and selfies; it’s about leaving something behind, and that means making a substantial difference in the lives of the people you work with or represent through organizations or roles. Leadership isn’t about being the boss of everyone. It is about listening and being effective at solving the problems that are in the way of getting things done.

I often look at those who want to lead at the top and have never led at any level. Is there something wrong with that? Yes, there is.  Quite often, your benchmark may be to low.  Now I get it, you could be working for an ineffective leader and are watching them rise. And you figure I can do that. But you can’t nor will they. Many ineffective leaders rise to their level of incompetence. Those who rise with a high level of competence have led in many diverse roles. In other words, they have paid the price of learning and struggling along the way.

I can tell you when someone has not learned enough. And it is usually after they have failed and do not learn from their mistakes, they show no humility and are driven by hubris, which is defined as excessive pride. I see it all the time. They flaunt titles and selfies to make their presence known. Now, don’t get me wrong, sharing your past roles with others in an introduction (when asked) or when promoting something like a book or making a presentation is understandable. But doing it to impress and be popular is not an effective way to define one’s leadership. That’s ego.

We’ve also seen it in politicians who thrive on getting attention from the media and use that as a measure of their effectiveness, which isn’t leadership. Fighting for a cause and winning at it is leadership, even if it is unpopular. But few will risk being unpopular or being targeted by their peers. Often, there is another sign—the desire to lead because your friends are there and you are not. Not being part of the club because you were fired, not appointed, or not elected will make some people do almost anything, even to compromise their integrity and values that they claim to have.

Why leadership isn’t about titles and selfies, well, because that is not how you measure leadership. I view leadership as a measure of what you leave behind. That may not be easy to do, but if you can accomplish it, then you are a leader.

When my kids were young, 9, 7, and 3, they would stand at the door for a hug before I went to work each morning.  The seven-year-old one day asked me when he would know that he’s a leader? My wife taught me to answer all their questions. I looked at all three and said. When your heart, mind, and soul agree on what you believe in. For me, titles came a lot of them, but I didn’t seek out selfies.  I sought humility over hubris and integrity over illusions.

George Minakakis

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