Mentors are very special. There is something implicit in their mission. That is: Don’t simply create more followers nor more carbon copies.
In the words of the late Gordon Tootoosis’ character Cecil Delaronde from Blackstone, “Leadership is not ascent to power. It is submission to service.”
Over the years, some very remarkable people (some now passed on, some still walking with us) have taken the time to guide and advise many in our region while also respecting autonomy and individual choice. No matter how varied and diverse the experiences that mentors have held at their cores, a handful of core messages remain greatly consistent with the backbone of their approach:
Leadership is not self-enrichment but rather the enrichment of others. It is the creation of more leaders rather than increasing followers.
These ideas reside like flickering sparks within this week’s book, Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss.
Published in 2020 (but resurfacing in the wake of modern times and current challenges), Frei and Morriss share that leadership isn’t about improving yourself. It is about supporting others and making them better.
The authors make the case that empowerment should be a result of a leader’s presence, as well as a continuing empowerment in a leader’s absence. Ultimately, this builds upon previous columns about building leadership capacity – but importantly, the spirit of how it is accomplished.
The major five sparks that can ignite empowerment in both presence and absence are as follows:
- Trust as the foundation of leadership is made of three things: authenticity (when others believe they are interacting with the real you), empathy (where others believe you care about them and their interests), and logic (as others believe your judgement and reasoning are sound). The interplay between these three dimensions sustains the trust in a leader.
- A leader’s genuine commitment to others paired with the choice to carry high expectations for others are two dimensions of the second touchstone—love. Through devotion to others and holding them to reasonably high standards, the leader communicates their support and commitments even without words.
- When a leader creates an environment where others’ distinct capacities, passions, gifts, and perspectives can ignite, the value of belonging is brought to life. There is a difference between gathering a diverse group of individuals and creating opportunities where others can contribute to an organization’s goal – but crucially as themselves. Difference can always contribute.
- If people understand how an organization creates and captures value in order to make sound decisions, strategy is given rise. If this definition of strategy is employed, leadership survives and continues in one’s absence.
- Finally, by ensuring the culture of an organization is consistent (including the goals, expectations, values, and the unspoken spirit of approach), there is a greater chance to collectively face and solve unexpected challenges together.
By the interplay of these five guiding lights, the level (and effectiveness) of leaders creating more leaders can come to fruition.
Ultimately, it protects the mission of an organization.
If the effectiveness of an organization continues even after a leader becomes absent, it reveals that new leaders (and an environment where this can continue) have been successfully created.
I wholeheartedly agree with the authors’ position and ideas.
However, there is a small nuance (possibly implied) that must be acknowledged: While a leader is helping to build other leaders so they can carry the fire in their absence, I believe that any leader should also be guided by leaders who build them up at the same time.
This essentially builds a chain of continual leadership, influence, insight, and support.
Over time, an unbroken line of leaders creating leaders creating leaders is not only brought to life but ensures continuity and a collection of rich perspectives.
Strike sparks and light all lanterns. The glow is lovely and the warmth, promising.
Harvard Review Press, 240 pp., $38.99
