Doing some reading this weekend and one TED led to another TED and I ended up on this one called How Great Leaders Inspire Action. As I decided to send it out to a few of you, I got an email from a former team member. She sent the link to me via email with a “must watch” note. Coincidence? Only if you believe in such things….
"You know, in the military, they give medals to people who are willing to sacrifice themselves so that others may gain. In business, we give bonuses to people who are willing to sacrifice others so that we may gain. We have it backwards. Right?” – Simon Sinek
We absolutely do have it backwards, but the great news is – it isn’t too late. “WE” can change! And when I say “WE”, I always start with the “I”.
“Leadership is a choice. It is not a rank. I know many people at the senior most levels of organizations who are absolutely not leaders. They are authorities, and we do what they say because they have authority over us, but we would not follow them. And I know many people who are at the bottoms of organizations who have no authority and they are absolutely leaders, and this is because they have chosen to look after the person to the left of them, and they have chosen to look after the person to the right of them. This is what a leader is.” - Simon Sinek
Be the leader who sets the tone. And set a beautiful tone that is not only visionary and strategic, but also kind and compassionate. Most of all set the tone that allows team members to fall and learn and get up again [repeat] and then reward those team members for having the courage to fall forward. Reward them also for watching out for the colleague on the right and cheering them on as they fall forward.
Through that selfless action, make the world, your company, your home a GREAT, safe place to learn and grow.
TED Talks: How Great Leaders Inspire Action http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action
