weLEAD Online Magazine

leadingtoday.org

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 20^th 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

Monthly book reviews of recent or prominent books on the subject of leadership

A special “leadership tip” every month

On-site leadership seminars, including a speakers bureau (offered at a reasonable fee)

Unique audio CD products to enhance personal growth

A semi-annually published E-Journal of Organizational Learning and Leadership weLEADInLEARNING

Web-based links for those studying organizational learning and leadership weLEADInLEARNING

A bibliography database listing publications of researchers and individuals in the study of organizational learning and leadership weLEADInLEARNING

A “members only” site offering each monthly magazine article, and book review in MP3 audio format along with other member services.

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.

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About the author:

Greg has over 25 years of sales and marketing experience within the electrical manufacturing industry. Some of his positions have included being a National Sales Manager, National Marketing Manager and Regional Sales Manager. He also has an extensive 35 years experience in public speaking and has written articles for various publications. Greg has a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Bellevue University, where he has served as an adjunct professor. He is the founder of weLEAD Incorporated, a nonprofit organization chartered to promote personal and organizational leadership. Greg's personal site is located at http://www.greglthomas.info