Working early on to define Vision and Leadership

Kyle mentioned my challenge to him to think of legacy in terms of leadership. What differentiates really good leaders from great ones is their ability to create an environment where everyone understands the Vision, knows the role they play, and is empowered to excel. The true test of this is what happens when the leader is not there.

There were periods of my life as a leader where I dreaded leaving the office for vacation. I believed that I would return to a larger mess when I got back and regret taking the time off. I would prove myself right every time. When I made my people capable of doing the job functions and understanding the outcomes, I found fewer fires when I returned from time off.

Leadership has many variables. Kyle and I discussed some of them as we began digging into the work. We even got on the subject of nature vs. nurture when it comes to producing great leaders. While leaders are not born, who they are has significant impact on their abilities. And even the right leader now may not always be the right person for that situation in the future. So timing can impact leadership as well. That is why so many variables make up a leader and the decisions that leader makes. The challenge is finding out where you fit and can you sidestep ego and insecurity to do what is right.