People over power

Leadership.

Across-the-board, this is a multi-layered and very often misunderstood concept. However, to me it’s actually quite simple.

People over power. Compassion over corporation. The rest will follow.

A leader will never forget where they started. What it felt like to have a bad boss—an uncaring, selfish money-loving and power-hungry boss. I’m sure the vast majority of you have had to report to at least one of these types—you know, the ones that make you constantly question who they fooled to get where they are. The ones who make you realize they’d make a much better actor/actress than a leader. To give them credit, it does take talent to convince people of your abilities to lead, of your “pure” intentions… I have certainly met a few worthy of an Oscar.

I believe having at least one less-than-stellar boss really does give the perspective needed to appreciate a good one. A good boss isn’t really a boss at all though. They view you more as a co-worker that is essential to success—someone they need to get their job done. I know it’s just a word, but I really hate the term subordinate. I think it’s because it makes me think sub-par—which is exactly how a bad boss can make you feel.

How the person in charge treats you, matters. How they value you (or lack thereof) –matters. Never attempt to justify the mistreatment and power-hungry moves of those who claim to lead. Each one of us make a conscious decision on how we choose to treat others. The difference is who is motivated by money and status and who remains true to their own values despite work pressure and manipulation from the top.

Sadly, the majority of those who move up in their careers didn’t do so on merit, but rather figuring out the game. Learning the system. Agreeing with the people who make the big decisions despite how it may negatively affect those who work really hard… and for a much smaller paycheck. Whether you work in the cooperate world, government sector, retail …every boss makes a choice, every-single-day, on how they treat their staff.

A leader does care about you as a person. They care if you are having a hard time or if you have lost a family member. They understand that your children come first and if they are sick or have an event you want to attend—that even if it is inconvenient to work needs, it’s family and family comes first.

Most have heard this, but it remains true: most places of business will post your job to replace you in a matter of days, maybe even hours, but your family and your work family will remember the choices you made and what you stood for when it’s all said and done.

Talk to your staff. Find out how they are doing. Find out their worries and make a point to figure out what they enjoy doing work-wise so that if it’s possible you can enable them to do more of that. Usually, as a result they will likely have higher productivity due to enjoying what they are doing. Not higher productivity stemmed strictly from intimidation and/or threats of a bad employee review or insinuations that you will never move up to higher paying positions.

When you are treated with kindness and true empathy—you tend to want to do your best at work. You might not love everything you do, but it’s much easier to do these things if you know it will benefit the supervisor who actually cares about you as a person.

I believe that leadership is ingrained into some and others have to work a little harder to master it. I also believe that many great leaders are not necessarily the best managers/supervisors. Sometimes you have to make choices that are either what the “big bosses” want or what you feel is actually right. Sometimes you don’t get a choice, but at the very least you can convey to your staff that you disagree with the choice and wish you didn’t have to enforce whatever foolishness is trickling down from the top.

People will always remember how you made them feel. It’s an old and maybe overused saying, but it holds true till the end of time.

You never know when you might have your own opportunity to be a boss. You have to decide what is most important to you. Will you know your employees’ children’s names? Is that a requirement you might ask? Of course not. Not for a boss.

Not even for for a manager or supervisor. But I’d say for a leader (depending on the number you supervise) you couldn’t imagine not knowing their immediate family members’ names. Their family, like yours, should always remain what is most important. If you are reading this and disagree…are thinking there is so much more to it.….I’d be inclined to say you are not a leader.

It really is that that simple.

If you resonate with any of this, people may be quick to call you soft. Say you are too indecisive if you are inclined to get opinions from co-workers (and heaven-forbid subordinates) before barking out orders. If you stop and pause to consider the different outcomes or the impact it will have on those without a voice. Say you are not strong or tough enough—maybe even insinuate you don’t have a backbone.

To that I say: a true leader has a heart above all else.

They have a conscious. They may not be a fantastic manager/boss by traditional cooperate views on success and power, but they know how to lead. A true leader leads without having to ask others to follow.