On Becoming a Leader: Chapter 2 "Understanding the Basics" (pp. 33 - 48)

One liberating idea we discussed in the time reflecting on foundations of leadership is that each leader is unique. Bennis supports that assertion, but in this chapter shares with us some commonalities he has recognized among leaders:

1) A guiding vision - "The leader has a clear idea of what he or she wants to do." Don't panic. You may be saying to yourself, "Yikes, I have no idea of where I am going." That's ok. That is what this next year is about, remember? Carving out quality space to think about who you are, where you are going and why you are going there.  You also might have a flicker of an idea, or a full-fledged proposal waiting to be dropped on John's desk...or the desk of a venture capitalist. For clarity on vision, reflect deeply on the "where am I going" question.

2) Passion - "The underlying passions for the promises of life and a particular passion for a vocation, profession or course of action." What stirs you? What creates "flow" for you? https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow?language=en

3) Integrity - (One of ELI's Core Competencies) Bennis defines integrity as self-knowledge, candor and maturity. You might have a different definition of integrity. Bennis suggests that, "Until you truly know yourself, strengths and weaknesses, know what you want to do and why you want to do it, you cannot succeed in any but the most superficial sense of the word." Wow, what a statement. Candor is what helps us to be honest with ourself (accurate self-assessment)

Bennis also mentions Curiosity (growth mindset) & Daring (initiative) plus a learning from Adversity (resilience/adaptability) as common traits among leaders.

Bennis recognizes the deficiencies of most leadership training courses - most teach skills in a prescriptive way (methodologies). He laments that courses cannot teach character or vision. "Developing character and vision is the way leaders invent themselves." What we are doing together in our meetings and readings is to raise our awareness of what it means to be a leader, but the hard work is left to you, making it manifest is within yourselves, in your relationships, in your teams.

This is going to be an ongoing theme, so get this stuck in your mind: "True understanding derives from engagement and from the full deployment of ourselves."
(p. 41)


Feel free to comment on any of these ideas or others that we ignited as you read these pages! Raise a question, refute an idea, propose a solution, confess a need - whatever will help you process these great ideas about leadership!