Typically, we’re told “to be a good leader we have to be strong”. This implies hiding or eliminating your weaknesses. Yet, it is this combination of strengths AND weaknesses that make you a ‘real’ person. And, an authentic leader. Here we explore why, when and how to reveal your weaknesses to be real for your followers.
[Tweet “To be real, a true leader reveals some weakness #leadership”]
Leadership is only real in the pursuit of something. A purpose. A mission. A cause. Otherwise, you don’t need it. And, any pretence to displaying it is false.
Great leaders are driven by an unbending sense of purpose. And they display their true selves when they show:
If leaders didn’t care, they’d be detached from their efforts. And, followers can smell that a mile away.
Being a great leader is like being a great parent. You may need tough empathy where you give people what they need rather than what they want. It’s more than role playing. It’s living up to the obligations and expectations of the job.
The paradox is when you take on a task that is bigger than any one person, you’ll naturally show more of yourself. The challenge is to show enough of yourself and not too much. Reveal your strengths as well as weaknesses.
[Tweet “You only need leadership if you’re pursuing something #purpose”]
Here’s four reasons why we don’t reveal enough of ourselves.
[Tweet “Four reasons leaders don’t reveal enough of themselves #leadership”]
Six suggestions for leading with purpose:
[Tweet “Six simple ways to lead with purpose #leadership #purpose”]
We are not saying that leadership is built primarily around individual weakness. When shown too often, a weakness becomes a defining characteristic, not a tolerable exception.
COMMENT: Review your leadership… Are you too strong, too weak or just right?
Here are ten personal mission statement examples from famous youtubers. They each have millions of…
What’s the difference between vision mission and purpose? And most importantly, what’s the best way…
Do you want some inspiration for your life? Here are 15 of the best Purpose…
Purpose synonyms are other words that have a similar meaning to purpose. And this is…
Previously, I shared 11 corporate purpose statement examples. I thought they were generic - many…
Today I’m sharing 11 purpose statement examples from global companies. You’ll know the companies but…