Slice it however you want, you can’t have quality in the former if they haven’t earned the latter. And, like it or not, it takes time to earn that respect. Time, effort, and quite often, a lot of endurance to get through the bullshit. Also, being a quality leader means paying back the respect given.
A quality leader does not just appear overnight. They certainly don’t just magically appear because an individual thinks they’re a quality leader. If you don’t believe me, walk into a room filled with people who don’t know you and try to get them to follow you just because you say they should. Let’s face facts here – it ain’t gonna happen. Not unless there’s a fire and you’re pointing to the nearest exit. The point is, you do not become a leader, quality or otherwise, simply because you say you are a leader.
In fact, you are not a leader until others recognize you as one. You will never be a quality leader until you have earned the respect and recognition of others as being one. You will never remain a leader if you do not respect those around you.
Being a leader of good quality is not just about taking charge and giving orders. It’s not about just jumping in to do what needs to be done. It is not necessarily about coordinating this or that event. It isn’t about single-mindedly pursuing just one vision. It isn’t about always having the right answer to the problem at hand – or even being the one to solve it. Quality leadership is many of these things and even more besides.
Many in the collective whom I view and respect as quality leaders all tell the same thing. They did not set out to be leaders in the collective. That was not what brought them into the collective. At some point, they looked back and realized that others had begun following their lead. In not seeking the limelight or the attention of others, they had stepped into the light and been noticed. Along the way they had taken on the responsibility to get things done, shown vision and dedication toward that completion, and earned the respect of others while treating them with respect. And none of them ever stood up and proclaimed themselves leaders. They didn’t have to. Through respect and recognition, they had become leaders.
They didn’t say “Follow me” or even “Hey! Look at me!”
If I had to choose one action associated with a good, quality leader, it would be that they LISTEN. Yes, it is true a quality leader is also a doer, and that’s important. However, it is the one that takes the time to listen that is going to stand out. They listen to what others have to say, even solicit their input. They listen to ideas rather than arbitrarily choosing their own. They listen to the concerns of others. Most of all, they listen to the criticisms and mistakes brought to their attention – and then learn from them.
The sad reality is that, while we have plenty of outstanding examples of quality leaders throughout the collective, we’re slowly losing them. This loss is compounded by the concurrent loss of potential future leaders of good quality. That key component – respect – is evaporating in the collective. It is the cycle of respect earned and given that keeps good leaders going and encourages new ones to step forward. It has been replaced by a cycle of viciousness and ego-driven bile that discourages all but the most hardened leaders. People who knowingly put themselves out there know there is a plethora of naysayers and detractors. They know not everyone is going to be in sync. In a healthy culture, that can be more easily endured. Sadly, our collective culture is anything but healthy these days. Ignorance, short-sightedness, personal pique, jealousy, even deliberate attempts to undermine effort for the common growth, all these are eroding the endurance of those who put themselves out there – and discouraging the newer generations from putting themselves forward.
If we’re going to keep losing the goods ones and not find any to take up the mantle, what future do we have?
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