What/who made me a leader?
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." John Maxwell
At the beginning of each “Coaching for Leaders” podcast (find it here), host Dave Stachowiak posits, “Leaders aren’t born – they’re made.” I’ve pondered this statement or question (are leaders born or made?) for years. Who and what made the greats – the leaders we admire and respect? I consider myself a very good leader. I only state this because of the feedback I’ve been given over the years, even recently in my small businesses. How did I get here? Was I born with some inherent characteristics? Was leadership always in my DNA? Or am I solely a product of my environment and my choices – mistakes and correctness? Am I a product of the leaders and subordinates who’ve populated my journey?
I believe the latter. I stand with Dave. Leaders are made. I’m the product of countless ‘who’s’ and ‘what’s. My parents get the first credit. I was taught manners and values growing up. My dad was a salesman and the epitome of a gentleman. His gentleness, respect, and charisma had an indelible impact on me at a young age. While not all his lessons were formal ones, he showed me how to influence people – the essence of leadership. Boy Scouts did its work. I didn’t stay in scouts long but the concepts scouting taught me – citizenship, allegiance, moral code, and service to name a few, sunk in to a young, impressionable man. Sports get some credit. I played basketball where I learned the concepts of meritocracy, sacrifice, teamwork, and sportsmanship – where it was not about me the individual, it was about the team and the win. All of this shaped the leader I was to become. But was it enough?
I’ll never know the answer to that question. I like to think I would have become a leader had I traveled a private versus public path. My older sister is a leader and I find we are similar in so many ways. I’m sure she has a ‘made’ story to tell. The U.S. Army took a young man with a good foundation and went to work him – aside from marrying my wife Leslie, volunteering for the U.S. Army was the decision I got most correct. In the Army I found a laboratory of leadership. I would grow immensely. I was fortunate in the Army to formally learn leadership and practice it under the toughest conditions in training and combat. No private organization could match what I gained from military service. The Army owns a big chunk of the ‘made’ leader I am today.
Finally, my small, private businesses make me the leader I am today. In my businesses I am not sent ‘soldiers.’ I do not have legal authority over my people as I did in the Army. There isn’t an existing foundation of values, character, and loyalty formed and fostered in basic individual training. I do indeed lead men and women of character – I select them and retain them based on these characteristics, but they are not soldiers. They require a different style of leadership where I must focus intently on workplace climate, culture, and where I must promote our cause and our vision often. In this leadership role I find I do more coaching, teaching, and mentoring.
At the center of all of this – my life and leadership journey were people, good and bad leaders, who showed me how it’s done and not done and subordinates who challenged my leadership, taught me their trade, and made me better. Today I’m the product of all these people. I like to think I’m the best pieces of them and their lessons as I’m sure they were the best pieces of those who went before them. I’m still being made and, importantly, I’m making future leaders.
Dave Stachowiak’s thought-provoking statement at the front of each podcast episode serves as a continuous reminder for me that I was made into a leader, not born one. It makes me grateful for the journey and the people in it. It reminds me of the impact I continue to have on others and of my duty to ‘make’ another leader for the future. Most importantly, it makes me reflect on my journey of being made and the lessons it taught me and teaches me each day. Years from now I’ll be better than I am today.
Who and what made you? What are the lessons, good and bad? What from your childhood (good and bad) guides you today? This is an important reflection if you want to be the best leader you can be.
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell