« I Miss the Beach Already | Main | Tim Chimes In »
Greater Than Yourself
The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that the ultimate rule of the Extreme Leader is to make others greater than yourself. (We started exploring this in an earlier post).
If you really take this seriously, this is at least part of the plan you'd need to follow:
Seek to raise others’
• Capability
• Competence
• Influence
• Vision
• Enthusiasm
• Passion
By giving away your
• Connections
• Knowledge
• Advice and council
• Support
• Resources
Which requires that you have
• Unshakable self-confidence
• An open and compassionate heart
• A mindset of abundance vs. scarcity
• The belief that relationship is not a zero sum game
And results in their rising to a level of achievement higher than your own,
which puts you in the most elite and valuable of categories:
Creator of Masters.
That's a legacy I'd be proud of, and I see how it would take a lifetime to earn.
I'm going to think this through in greater detail and depth over the next few months (at least) and I'd love your input on the idea and the challenges inherent in it as well as examples of your experience with someone that's done this for you.
Posted by steve at 09.03.2006 | Comments (7)
Comments: Greater Than Yourself
Steve, this is a really cool track you're on. I'm glad I saw this post. It's a good one!
mark
Posted by mark at September 4, 2006 07:25 PM
Inspiring post -- and I agree with the goals, methods and prerequisites you propose.
This is very much in alignment with what I've read about Dee Hock's Chaordic Leadership Principles, which I also find inspiring ... and often challenging.
I would quibble with your choice of words in the title, though. I believe we are all peers, and we are all [equally] great. My goal as a leader is not to make anyone greater than anyone else (including me), but simply to help facilitate another person's willingness and ability to manifest more of who they truly are.
I would not be surprised if you share this view, and the only reason I point it out is because you used those words in the title ... and if you are going to make this a series, may want to consider how you phrase the central goal.
I look forward to future posts on the topic!
Posted by Joe McCarthy at September 5, 2006 06:03 PM
Joe: Thanks for the tip on Dee Hock (formerly of Visa fame, I assume); I'll have to look that up for myself. Regarding the choice of the words "greater than yourself," I'm not married to them, either. But I do like the phrase because it's provocative and demands for us to put our own egos in check. Interesting point, however, and grist for a future post.
Posted by Steve Farber at September 5, 2006 06:30 PM
Great ideas.
Humility, selflessness, and a view of the greater good are often forgotten when we think about about leaders.
It's also curious that these ideas about sharing leadership knowledge and power don't occur until later in life. Rarely do you see these traits in "young" leaders.
It seems we can only give powerand knowledge away after we've accumulated it. That is when we realize that the only satisfaction one has in achieving power and leadership is the abiltiy to give it away and pass it on.
Posted by Lee Iwan at September 6, 2006 12:14 PM
Spoken like a true master.
Posted by Cathy Thorsen at September 7, 2006 05:20 PM
Hi Steve,
I wish there were more voices saying this and saying it louder. I just went looking and couldn't find nearly enough. You've your work before you. :) {big, big, grin]
Posted by Liz Strauss at December 18, 2006 06:09 AM
Hello,
I think you have one slice of a leader. Not every one is a leader or wants to be a leader, so Greater than Yourself is impossible. I see good leaders as developing in three phases. First they now how to be independent and teach independence. Secondly, they are good team players and can teach others how to be on a team. Your bullets fit into these two categories or leadership, except for Vision. The third and most mature level is leadership. This is not raising people to be greater than you, although it includes that, it's raising people to thier most desireable level of independence, team player or leadership. Some will excel at independence, some will excel at getting others around them to perform better and others will become greater than you. A good leader handles all types of people he leads not just those that will become greater than him.
I absolutely agree with your list of "Which requires that you have." I would add - selfless principles to base decisions, strength to stand up against self seeking leaders, ability to confirm what people already know about themselves, courage to break down the bias others have - appropriate risk taking when assigning tasks, an understanding that fear and lack of confidence are the two biggest hurdles that cause people to suppress each other or themselves, and on more comes to mind, the belief that there is at least one thing that everybody is good at and passionate about, at least enough to show up and do it 40 hours a week!
Great topic - Jim Palomar, Chevron Manager
Posted by James Palomar at January 4, 2007 07:05 AM