Your power and value are in building the environment that lets others be powerful and get valuable stuff done.
Boston Philharmonic conductor Benjamin Zander once said, “The conductor of an orchestra doesn’t make a sound. He depends, for his power, on his ability to make other people powerful.”
We may think, value, and act as if our job is to get things done or get others to get things done. But this approach makes us a bottleneck, at best. (At worst we become like a tyrant.) When our teams’ work starts, goes through, or ends with us, just a tiny fraction of what’s possible ever gets done.
Our leadership power and reward come when our team, collectively and each member, is powerful and gets good stuff done. They do the deciding, the planning, the execution. They own it. They accomplish more than anyone had thought possible. They get the kudos. They feel powerful.
This is how we, the leaders, win.
In your corner,
Mike
Today’s photo credit: Mark Kamin cc