What is a leader, anyway?
A simple question that produces very confusing answers.
I need to get this off my chest. Something has been bothering me for the past ten years, and it's gotten so bad that I'm ready to do what all mature adults do when they're fed up: turn to social media.
My irritation is the lack of a solid answer to a simple question. No, it’s not 'What's the deal with chihuahuas?'" That is a great question, but not the one bugging me.
Recently, I was with a group of about forty leaders in Huntsville, AL. As a quick warm-up exercise to start our day, I handed out Post-It® Notes and gave them two minutes to "draw a duck."
When they finished, they posted their drawings on the wall for everyone to see. It was fantastic.
Some drawings were great, and some were the opposite of great. Many people have clearly seen a duck before, while others might need to get outside a little more—maybe visit a farm or a local pond.
As expected, no two ducks looked the same. They were all different, and that was my point.
I share this story because it highlights what's been bothering me. If I ask forty leaders to draw a duck, I get forty different ducks.
The same happens when I ask forty leaders, "What is a leader?" I get forty different answers.
And that bothers me. Duck drawings don’t matter, but defining what a leader is does.
To me, the lack of consistency is a big deal. As Robert Lewis famously said, "You can't become what you can't define." If you don't have a clear destination, how will you know when you've arrived?
So, I want to stop complaining and start helping. I don't know if I've found the answer, but I think I can help push this conversation forward.
I recently had a "eureka!" moment that I want to share. It's not the answer, but it cleared the fog a bit.
When people hear the word "leader," three different ideas come to mind. These lead to three different kinds of answers, creating confusion and noise. The three ideas are:
The office of a leader.
The activity of a leader.
The quality of a leader.
THE OFFICE OF A LEADER
This is the rarest answer, but it does come up. The dictionary defines a leader as someone responsible for a team or group of people. I like the simplicity of this idea—it reminds me that leadership is first and foremost a relationship.
THE ACTIVITY OF A LEADER
This is the most common answer. People think of how a leader acts. This isn't wrong. To lead is a verb, and verbs are action-oriented. A leader casts vision, sets an example, and takes initiative for others' benefit. Great answers, but no single action fully defines leadership. This reminds me that leading is something you do, not just think about. It also reminds me that anyone can lead, regardless of title.
THE QUALITY OF A LEADER
This is often the most passionate answer. Sometimes, people define a leader by what makes someone a good leader or worth following. Again, this is not wrong. A leader does the right thing, has empathy, and cares about their team. This reminds me that actions (or lack thereof) determine your quality as a leader.
TOWARDS CLARITY
Putting it all together, we start to see a clearer picture. We can push away confusion and move towards clarity. "What is a leader?" is a simple question with a few different answers, but these ideas add up to something:
A leader is someone responsible for a team and acts on their behalf.
Anyone, regardless of title, can engage in leadership activities.
Actions, not titles, define good or bad leadership.
SO WHAT?
Fortunately, I feel less bothered. But, more importantly, this whole process has reinforced two crucial points, which I'll end with:
Leading is a relationship. A person doesn't become a leader without a team or group they aim to influence.
Leading is a verb. Leaders act, move, and do stuff. There's much more to say on this, especially in our information age, where knowledge is often mistaken for application. But I'll leave it here for now.
Whichever way you draw a duck is fine. But it's wise to focus on relationships and action regarding leadership.
Did you know I co-host a weekly podcast called How to Lead with my good friend Clay Scroggins? This week’s episode was on the same topic as this email. We publish short content every Monday morning so you can start your work week on the right foot.
