Leadership is Contagious: 3 Brief Insights
Leadership is contagious.
We do not become leaders by reading about leadership. We do not become leaders by thinking about it. We catch leadership from other people.
The seeds of our own understanding of leadership are planted in us by people sharing leadership with us. The ways we recognize and appreciate leadership grow in us, shaped by the leaders we meet.
I adapt the leadership they share to create my own strain, and then spread it to others.
Leadership is caught, not taught.
I can look back in gratitude and see the carriers who have infected me with various strains of leadership that have become full-blown leadership. I can also look forward in anticipation of the people who will contribute to how my leadership will continue to develop in the future.
Some people have spread the contagion to me in a focused, intentional way. Others have infected me without even knowing it.
Some have helped me develop antibodies and avoid qualities that would be harmful to my particular version of leadership.
Leadership is viral.
One fascinating thing about leadership is that I do not even need to come into direct contact with the people who contribute to my understanding. I can catch leadership from people I have never even met.
I can read books they have written, and books written about them. I can listen to what they have said, or watch them saying it. The germ of their leadership spreads to me through the words on a page, and the words they say.
I have access to leaders around the world. We have regular conversations online, which spread the leadership contagion and strengthen our own strains.
Everyone can get infected; everyone can be a leader.
How has your leadership been caught from other leaders?
How are you developing your own strain of leadership?
[Image by euthman]
8 Comments
AJ Borowsky
August 7, 2012Great post Greg. The idea of a virus is a great analogy because you can become infected and it, the leadership, does morph and change into a new “strain” as you say.
I also agree that you can become infected by people who you never have physical contact with. This is so much truer with technology and social media. You probably don’t hear it enough but thank you for being a “carrier” as you have shaped aspects of my leadership virus.
Strategic Monk
August 7, 2012Thank You, AJ!
Yes, as we recognize our true selves and appreciate the true selves of the people around us, the lessons we share germinate and we develop our own versions of leadership.
We are all carriers. Thank you for infecting me, too!
Jennifer Olney
August 7, 2012The lessons we learn from others in leadership are spread to us and pollinate others. Leadership is viral – I like that, Greg and I agree. We can teach others but the teaching is really application of passing down experience. Leaders learn in the action of leadership, not in just the thought of thinking about leading. Leadership is doing. We learn by the actions of those who are not leading by the correct path and those lessons are just as important. Nothing we can in our experience is lost on us. Each lesson is important. Thanks for this great post. I’m always learning from you. You are infectious in your leadership, Greg. Thank you.
Strategic Monk
August 7, 2012Thank you, Jen!
I agree; the lessons we learn from others, and the experiences we share, combine in new ways with who we are and what we value at our core. We create a new strain of leadership each day, and spread it to the people around us.
I am always inspired by sharing with you, Jen, and spreading the leadership pandemic.
Sister Heather-NoeL
August 11, 2012Just emailed this to my precious Dotter, thank ye Strategic Monk !
Strategic Monk
August 11, 2012Thank you, Sister! I hope your leadership spreads to the people around you.
Redge
August 12, 2012Interesting analogy Greg. This also implies that leaders are forever students – forever learning.
Strategic Monk
August 12, 2012Thank you, Redge!
Yes, the leaders who inspire me are always growing, always learning, always finding ways to go deeper.
Thank you for sharing your strain of leadership with me, and making my strain stronger.