Some leaders want to be the best leader. Others want to develop their people. Their is a difference in their focus which will affect the employees and the future of the organization. Which type of leader do you prefer?
Someone asked me this question the other day. Would you rather have a surgeon wanting to be the best surgeon or a surgeon wanting to save lives? My first thought was they are the same. Upon further reflection, I realized their was a big difference. This same question could be asked about leaders as well.
The difference is in their focus.
The first surgeon has an admirable goal of becoming the best surgeon. The focus of his/her goal is on himself/herself. A by-product of becoming the best is saving lives. The second surgeon’s focus of saving lives is admirable as well. The difference is this surgeon puts his/her patients before his/her career.
Let’s take this analogy to a leadership role. Leaders whose goal is to be the best as recognized by others and wants to move up the career ladder. They make decisions based on what will enhance their career the fastest. Along with reaching the top of the organization is more pay, power and prestige. Along the way they have lost focus on what is best for the organization and their employees to what is best for their own gain.
Leaders who focus on developing their people can rise to the top of their organization as well. The difference is, they did it by empowering their people to be leaders to continue to grow the organization after they are gone. The culture is one of trust and collaboration, a place people enjoy coming to work. Both leaders are at the top of their organization. The difference is this leader sees success based on the growth of the employees and the organization, not on pay, power or prestige.
One leader brings his people to the peak alongside him. The other reaches the top alone. Now ask yourself the same question. Would you rather have a leader wanting to be the best leader or the leader who is wanting to develop their people?
Jean Brownlie
