weLEAD Online
Magazine
leadingtoday.org
Copyright 2003 ã weLEAD, Inc.
Where Can You Find How
to Lead?
-One Leader's Perspective
By Greg L. Thomas
This is a special
month for weLEAD Online Magazine. We are now two years old
and growing like the proverbial weed. In this article I would like to tell you
a little bit about weLEAD
and why we are dedicated to provide free relevant monthly information to
you and to the general public. It all started a few years ago while I
was completing my Masters Degree in Leadership from Bellevue University. I
enjoyed the study of leadership in an academic environment. But as I read from
academic texts and studied theories with terms like “transactional leadership”
and “systems theory”, I kept asking myself a basic question. Why isn’t this information made “plain and easy” for most people
to understand? Another question I asked myself was, “where is leadership
information made available for the housewife, student, factory worker, as well
as the business manager or executive?” As I began to search for answers, I did
find some organizations dedicated to promote leadership to religious workers or
business management but not for a broad based audience with varied needs.
This
led me to ask some more questions! How can the average person interested
in the study of leadership be expected to glean helpful information from dry
scholarly literature or consultant-speak? Why does the subject of leadership
seem to be so elusive? As I pondered these questions and others, I decided to
search for some answers, especially on the World Wide Web. What I found left me
feeling empty and frustrated! Since my fine instructors at Bellevue University
encouraged us to use our newfound leadership knowledge to make a difference in
the world, I was beginning to have a clear vision of how I could…
Here
is what I discovered in my research. Numerous outstanding leadership/management
consultants and book authors could be found. They offer valuable services and
have played a major role in helping businesses to move forward. Some contribute
outstanding articles to weLEAD Online Magazine and we have had the privilege to
interview many. However, the approach or fees of most consultants left them far
beyond the reach of individuals or smaller organizations. I also found that
most major “leadership oriented” organizations were as snobby and bland as some
of the textbooks I had read in graduate school! They were obviously focused on
securing major business alliances. Most were unconcerned about the
average person who simply wanted to learn more about the qualities possessed by
great leaders and how to develop them. Many existing organizations simply
wanted to attract business executives or managers into their multi-thousand
dollar seminars or sell them one hundred dollar videos. Sadly, even some
outstanding nonprofit organizations had grown so large they had
forgotten their original mission and have become primarily interested in
generating revenues by appealing to a limited “executive” audience. I even
discovered some so-called leadership e-zines or
magazines on the web. But most of them had not been updated in many months, or
even years, and not regularly published. They were simply a marketing
tool offered by a business attempting to draw potential clients to their site
and their products.
I
also had another major dilemma and this one was personal! I had
come to realize that leadership, and the expectations of followers are
changing rapidly. The average employee, community member or follower is now
demanding more of their leaders. People have become so disgusted with
the continuing poor example of ruthless politicians, greedy business executives
and shallow religious figures that a crisis is occurring in our culture. The
crisis looming is that far too many people have lost trust and respect for
those in leadership positions. People are turning off and are not
interested in following even noble ideas or individuals. As John Maxwell
states, “If you think you are leading and no one is following, you are only
taking a walk!” This problem has been caused by generations of poor leadership
and abuse of power.
This
analysis also caused me to ask even more questions! How could we begin
to initiate a positive change? How could a new generation of caring and
effective leaders be developed from all segments of society? How could
people from the farm to the factory learn about leadership? What about the high
school student, single mother or a retired senior citizen? Certainly not by
attending thousand dollar seminars attended by only a few select managers who
could afford it. A new and effective
leadership approach needed to be taught and promoted for a new century. The
Internet could be the tool used to reach a vast audience of inquiring minds.
The
old model of so-called leadership is becoming even less effective each
day. This model was based on an autocratic and hierarchal approach. It was a
left over from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution when rural workers
were uneducated and desperate for any kind of work. As rural workers migrated
to the cities, business owners looked to the existing culture for a model
of organization and they found only one example to follow! The “king’s”
government, military and the state religion all had a “command and control”
structure. People in positions of power were demanding, controlling and used
intimidation as a way to motivate followers. There was an abundance of workers
available and if one was not cringing or fearful enough, they could easily be
replaced by another.
However,
when we arrive at the end of the 20th century, the Western world has
dramatically changed. Workers are now generally educated and society is far
more democratic. They pick up valuable new skills quickly. They have less
patience or tolerance working for an imbecile. Social programs like
unemployment compensation provide them more security. These differences allow
them to simply leave and take their skills to a competitor if they are not
happy. Or they can now become entrepreneurial and start their own company. In
many modernized nations, good workers are at a premium and can no longer
be considered “disposable”. Employees are no longer motivated by intimidation
and if poorly treated they will find subtle innovative ways to “repay” managers
for mistreatment. Product quality or service levels deteriorate as followers pretend
their activity is productivity. After working for a number of organizations for
almost 30 years, I had witnessed “firsthand” what doesn’t work and why!
Sadly I found that the autocratic business environment had also permeated many
other organizations in society, including educational institutions and
community service groups. As I studied and looked at the modern world, I
concluded that it was time to promote an original and truly effective
model of leadership.
The
most promising philosophy of this new leadership is called by various names.
Some call it servant-leadership, principle-centered leadership or stewardship.
These are actually modern terms for a very ancient philosophy. This philosophy
is basic and powerful in its effectiveness. The leader is “first and
foremost” a servant to others. This kind of leader looks on followers as
the greatest natural resource they could possibly have. They view people as
more important than buildings, image, quick profits or a failed strategy. They
also recognize that followers possess the most untapped potential that
exists in any organization. They are like an undiscovered diamond mine
just waiting to be found. When they are respected, trained, heard,
acknowledged, encouraged and mentored…they can achieve most any task and
overcome any obstacle.
I also had the good fortune of hearing a keynote address given by Dr.
Howard Baker at an international conference about the same time weLEAD was being envisioned in my thought process. His powerful
challenge to the audience to become servant leaders, and start by
changing ourselves was also an inspiration. Today, Dr. Baker is the Editor
in Chief of our sister site, weLEAD In Learning. My special thanks to Dr.
Baker for his passionate desire to promote leadership and organizational
learning. I also want to thank Jody Urquhart, a regular contributor to our
monthly online magazine for her exceptional articles.
Leadership
is also personal and starts within each of us. I particularly enjoy
focusing on personal leadership in my monthly articles. The reason is
because effective leaders, who leave the world a better place, are people of
values and integrity. Without this moral compass, people seek power or
privilege only for selfish gain. They believe it is acceptable to manipulate or
abuse others. Some gain a loyal group of followers. They may even be given the
title “leader” by a media that doesn’t understand the difference. However, in
the long term they will be recognized for what they truly were. After
initial success, their organization, their ideas, their
vision and their accomplishments will sink into the trash heap of
history. The right kind of effective leadership that produces positive
change in society is the result of one who has a foundation of sound
personal values and goals. Mohandas Gandhi once stated, “You must be the change you
wish to see in the world.” This is why personal leadership is so important and why I
take pleasure in discussing it often.
These are just some of the discoveries and understanding of
leadership I acquired in my academic, business and personal experiences. weLEAD was founded with a mission to acquire and promote a deeper
comprehension of positive leadership qualities and principles for everyone! We believe this knowledge should be openly shared with others. We are
committed to the principle that great leaders are forged by education,
opportunity and experience. weLEAD is also committed to the
ideal that leadership qualities are not for the very few, it is for most anyone who desires to fulfill
a positive vision. Becoming a true leader is available to anyone who desires to
produce constructive change in themselves, the workplace, the community or the
entire world. Presently, no one who volunteers their time or
efforts is paid a salary at weLEAD.
All donations we receive and any fees we earn go right back into expanding our mission. It is a labor of love and our pleasure to serve. It is
our continuing goal to offer a variety of services to promote leadership to the
widest possible audience.
Here are most of our present services:
A free monthly Online publication called weLEAD Online Magazine
Book reviews of recent or prominent books on
the subject of leadership
70 special “leadership tips” in text and MP3 audio
On-site leadership seminars,
including a speakers bureau
(offered at a reasonable fee)
A
semi-annually published E-Journal of Organizational Learning and Leadership weLEADInLEARNING
Our readers include individuals from every
profession and from 35 nations. About 1200 individuals have asked us to notify
them when a new issue of the magazine is posted on the web. We hope that each
issue of weLEAD Online Magazine offers at least one article,
interview or book review to help you on your personal journey to develop
greater leadership qualities. Where can anyone go to find out more about
leadership? Where can an academic minded person go to read the latest studies
in an E-Journal dedicated to leadership & learning? Where can one go to
study more about organizational learning including a regularly updated
bibliography? Where can the student go to learn about the basics of leadership
or search over 100 published articles on the subject? Where can mom or dad go
to learn about why teaching personal leadership is so valuable to their children and family relationships?
Where can an entry-level office worker go to learn how to advance their career?
Where can a seasoned executive or business owner go to read a monthly “tip” and
find out what really qualifies as “leadership”? Where can a retired senior citizen go to
read a free book review and be encouraged to use their years of experience to
serve others?
The answer is right
here at weLEAD! We like to call it the “leaders
source”. We feel the best is yet to come!
Thank you for giving us the opportunity and
tremendous privilege of serving you.
Comments
to: editor@leadingtoday.org
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About
the author:
Greg has an extensive thirty-five years experience in public
speaking and has spoken to hundreds of audiences worldwide. Greg has a Master
of Arts degree in Leadership from
Bellevue University, where he also has served as an adjunct professor teaching
courses in business management and leadership since 2002. His first book, 52 Leadership Tips
(That Will Change How You Lead Others) was published
in 2006 by WingSpan Press. His second book, Making
Life's Puzzle Pieces Fit was published in March 2009. Both are available at
amazon.com. Greg is also the president of Leadership
Excellence, Ltd and a Managing Partner of the Leadership Management
Institute. Leadership
Excellence, Ltd. effectively builds
individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential through enhanced
productivity and personal development using a number of proven programs. He is also the president and founder
of weLEAD Incorporated.