What I wish every leader knew about leadership.
Leadership was my minor in college. Influence - John Maxwell’s simple definition of leadership - was all my little Enneagram-3-heart wanted in life at 18. And I’ve had a complicated relationship with leadership and influence ever since.
After nearly two decades of studying and practicing leadership, I’ve come to realize that great leaders don’t just know leadership principles - they know when to apply the right principles at the right time.
Influence is in the application.
Recently, one of my clients shared feedback she received from a co-worker. Soon after the uncomfortable conversation, the co-worker sent a bulleted list of leadership sound bites in a multi-page document.
Every soundbite was a common principle agreed upon by most leaders.
Unfortunately, this co-worker forgot the critical factor in leadership -
Influence has nuance.
Great leaders don't just present information. Great leaders know when, where, and how to present the right information to the right person. It's not enough to comprehend a leadership principle - leaders must understand how to apply it to gain influence and help others.
Needless to say, my client’s co-worker didn’t gain much influence.
Prolific and charismatic communicators will reduce leadership to a simplified soundbite that’s easy to remember. But before you repeat and implement a catchy leadership axiom, consider its impact.
Leadership gone wrong
Great leaders delegate.
Quite possibly one of the most emphasized leadership tips. But have you ever seen this done poorly?
In college, I led a youth ministry at my church while also organizing a massive event on campus. The event fell on the night we hosted youth group, and I had to find someone to oversee and facilitate my church responsibilities so I could host the college event.
My 15-year-old mentee had been shadowing me for months and helped organize small details every week. I decided that she - not the grown adults who faithfully served every week for years - should be in charge.
I followed all the appropriate steps to delegate the night’s duties to my student.
The day after the night my mentee led, I received a phone from a volunteer who was furious that I chose a student to run youth group without asking for any help from the adults who could protect and maturely handle a group of students and their spiritual growth.
Right principle. Wrong (and poor) application.
My influence is strengthened or weakened by my ability to apply leadership principles.
A curated soundbite is only as good as its application.
When to apply what
Before you activate on the next brilliant leadership tip consider these questions -
What was the original intent of this principle?
What does this principle mean, fully?
Does the situation match or compare similarly to the example(s) that corresponded with this principle?
If I applied this principle, what is the outcome?
Who is impacted by the application of this principle?
Is there another principle more fitting for this situation?
By applying this principle, will the recipient (or those I influence) feel cared for, understood, supported, and inspired?
These are just a handful of questions to consider before applying a tool in your leadership toolbelt.
Leading people (and ourselves) is hard. But when we understand the people we lead and the principles we know, we can have a positive and lasting impact on those we influence.
