Don’t Learn Leadership
There’s just about any digital class on any given topic you can imagine. Interested in a new profession? There’s a bootcamp for that. How about a way to boost your LinkedIn profile? There’s certification for that. And there’s nothing wrong with any of these resources. Personally, I’m glad that we’re breaking out of the traditional college and grad school mold. Innovation in academia is long overdue.
However, if you’re in a role of substantial leadership, whether a C-level executive, principal of a school, or managing a team for the first time, my advice is, don’t tackle leadership like you would another topic. There is a weight to leadership that demands more than new knowledge and skills.
Don’t learn leadership. Become a leader.
Here’s the difference between the last 2 statements. Learning leadership will demand time and new understanding to implement tactics and strategies. Becoming a leader will demand all of who you are. The former will create performative leadership, the latter authentic leadership.
Think back on the mentors, supervisors, and those you most respect who’ve impacted you. Chances are you’ve been impacted by their character, their entire being, and not just a set of skills. This is a facet of Maya Angelou’s famous quote:
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Leadership is already demanding enough. Imagine if you had to perform your way through it, constantly analyzing the right leadership tactic for this moment and that moment. Now imagine how it would feel if leadership was simply being who you are. Let that sit. Feel it.
Here’s a small shift in moving this direction. Instead of asking “What do I need to learn to become a better leader?”, start asking “Who do I need to become?” This is not a question of changing your personality but levelling up your influence and impact.
So… who do you need to become in the next 12 months?
Summary
Leadership is not simply another topic to learn more about.
Instead of learning about leadership, become a leader.
Leadership tactics will lead to performative leadership while becoming a leader will lead to authentic leadership.
It all begins by asking a new question: Who do I need to become?
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