The Developmental Process in Leadership
When we get our first taste of leadership responsibility we generally want to prove that we are up to the task so our focus is on making a success of whatever responsibility we have been given. We may work hard, be firm with those who do not pull their weight and make sure we treat everyone equally. We show a willingness to do whatever it takes, even working excessively long hours, because of the demands of making things work. When called upon to use the power given to us through the position we hold we will not hesitate to do so. We want to avoid failure and prove that we are capable. All of this is natural and to be expected.
As time unfolds and we become more self-aware, we realise that using the authority invested in the title we hold in order to get things done doesn’t always produce the best results and that we need to grow other ways to influence people. We also discover that if we treat everyone equally it can be very unfair because people on our team possess different capacities and capabilities. Somehow we need to develop different approaches for different people on our team. We also realise that if we continue to work such long hours we may burn out, so we need to work out a way of fulfilling expectations without putting our own health in jeopardy.
Over time we begin to see that leadership is more complex than we had anticipated and that half of our battles are not to do with those on our team but are connected to our own internal world. We discover some of the insecurities that hold us back and begin to work on them. We begin to see that who we are becoming is as crucial, if not more so, than the skills we are developing and that character is at the heart of growing a different kind of authority. At some point we realise that the feelings of accomplishment from our successes are somewhat fleeting and that striving to climb the ladder does not bring the contentment we thought it might. We begin to see the world differently, to mature, to want to leave a legacy that has meaning in the world and to treasure the moments of joy which often come from deep connection with others. Such lessons in life are learnt only as part of a developmental process for they will make little sense if taught as theory.
