A Leader that I Admire...

After listening to Simon Sinek discuss his ideas about effective leadership, one thing that really resonated with me is the idea that authority does not equate to leadership. This reminded me of a particular work environment where one of my coworkers was more of a leader, in many ways, than the person with the greatest decision-making power. When Sinek discussed how leadership is really a human experience and good leaders are empathetic people who are capable of placing themselves in the shoes of others and work hard to create a positive and safe work environment even in the toughest times, it reminded me of a particular past coworker. When I began at the non-profit, this coworker took time (although not in her job description) to help me acclimate to the company. She also took time each week to sit down with me and review current projects, answer questions and connect me with resources and/or people that could help me to meet my goals. She served as a facilitator. She also offered me a great deal of choice in assignments and responsibility within the organization. She advocated for me and helped me to advocate for myself. Although she attended Dartmouth and I was a 21 year old intern, she trusted me to edit her weekly blog post and op-ed article for a local newspaper. Her trust in me and respect for me was communicated in the time that she invested in me and the responsibilities that she entrusted me with. She was an effective leader because she helped connect me with work that I was passionate about, she communicated trust and respect consistently and she provided me with structured time to ask questions and provide feedback.

Comments

  1. Lucie deLaBruereJanuary 18, 2020 at 8:13 PM

    TRUST! There are so many ways to lead - but I think communicating TRUST is one of the KEY ways you can get others to be part of the tribe you are leading. Your colleagues ability to do this made her very effective.

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  2. mirabelasunshineJanuary 19, 2020 at 6:13 PM

    I can totally relate to a couple of the things you say here. I've had the experience in a few different workplaces that the most admired, respected, and authoritative people around were not the official management, but the experienced, humble, stable people who had been doing the heavy lifting often for far longer than the present managers had been around. Sometimes the titled management either hasn't even recognized the trust their other employees place in these people, or has felt threatened by it. And secondly, the value of those experienced people who direct wind into the sails of those a little newer and less confident of themselves in a role is immeasurable.

    Nice work --

    Matt D.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mrs. Levine TeachJanuary 19, 2020 at 8:00 PM

    By mentoring you and giving you the opportunity to take on important tasks, this co-worker effectively led you in the work place. I think often times when the authority card is used to lead, it is out of fear that others listen, not a desire to be better. You are so lucky to have had this experience!

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    Replies
    1. Hannah LuceJanuary 20, 2020 at 10:50 AM

      I couldn't agree more. Even now, I have a principal who is trusting of the teachers and she leads by asking the right questions. There is a lot of value in leading by promoting self-growth and reflective thinking.

      Delete

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