Like determined detectives, leaders are sparked by curiosity. Relying on a combination of rational analysis and intuition, leaders search for deep truths.
Leadership is motivating people toward common goals. Some people look like they are trying to motivate the people around them through fear and brute force. They do not seem interested in inspiring people, drawing out their best from them. They just want to fit enough pieces together to get things done. They appear not to be concerned with uncovering the real story, but enough facts to sounds plausible.
Other people in leadership positions seem more like crime scene investigators. They want to examine every single bit of evidence, process every possible clue. They lead by immersing themselves in details, sifting through bits of motivation. They see leadership as being on top of every aspect of every person. They look for the one clue that will make everything else fit together.
Other people understand leadership as about partnership. They may be accustomed to working with certain people in certain ways. They know who they want to lead and who they do not. Their version of leadership is about teamwork; they do not want anyone coming in to mess up their team.
The leaders who inspire me are good detectives. They recognize that people are motivated by different things. They appreciate that strong leadership is a balance of many strengths. Leaders balance efficiency and patience, not missing details while seeing the big picture. They know they cannot do everything themselves, they need to bring out the best in the people around them.
The leaders who inspire me begin their detection by exploring themselves, discovering their own leadership.
What clues have you found to your own leadership today?
Which strengths are most challenging for you to balance?
[Image by Jeffrey Beall]
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