Are you an important person? Are you perhaps even a Very Important Person? Are you more important than someone else?
If the answer to those first two questions was a resounding yes then good for you. Understanding that you have value in this world and to those around you is healthy and in fact necessary for success.
If however, your answer to that third question was also a yes, even a hesitant yes, well then not so good for you.
It’s great to know that no one in this world is more important than you. It’s only useful to know it if you also know that you’re no more important than anyone else. As you’re sitting on the bus in traffic looking at the person in the back seat of a limousine you may be tempted to think that person must be pretty important. They are – just NOT MORE important than you.
They may have a more important job, the decisions they are required to make may be more impactful than the decisions you have to make in yours. They may get paid more, they may have a bigger house or even houses than you. They are NOT however more important as a person than you or anyone else.
Leaders are people, just people. They begin to fail as a leader the moment they begin to think they are something more. They begin to lose touch with the world and the people who make them a leader. Their view of reality begins to cloud over and they begin to believe that they “deserve” more than the people they lead.
Leaders who think they are better people than those they lead build walls between themselves and their people. They kill the morale of the people that both the leader and their people will need to succeed. Leaders who think they are better people than anyone else are poor leaders indeed.
They miss the most vital part of leadership: an understanding that leadership is about people, people and only people. Anything in business, or life, not related to people is just management or process. When people are involved, it’s leadership.
Anything that someone in a leadership position does that separates them from their people makes them a less effective leader. ANYTHING!
No one is more important and you’re no more important than anyone else. When you live your life with that simple balance, people will be drawn to you and your leadership experience will be one that makes a difference for everyone it touches.
Reblogged this on TheAlhamfirN.
Just exactly what you are doing right now and that’s examplary! Million thanks! With this remarkable thoughts, I felt worthwhile!
You’re very welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
A great post, Steve.
I found it fascinating that in the span of two days you and I had thoughts on the worth of an individual.
I liked the three tiered set of questions to get one thinking.
We have to be on higher ground to be able to help someone up but still come down to the same level when we are serving each other.
Thanks for your thoughtful leadership.
Roy
Thanks Roy, it’s clearly proof that great minds think alike.
Thanks, sometimes hard words to live by but you’re right, always good words to live by.
A very good message indeed Steve. Your closing comment captures that message perfectly: No one is more important and you’re no more important than anyone else. When you live your life with that simple balance, people will be drawn to you and your leadership experience will be one that makes a difference for everyone it touches.
Thank you as always for keeping it real for all of us.
Thanks Brent, leadership is so much more rewarding when the leader focuses on their followers instead of themselves. But the “me first” trap is an easy one to fall into.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Agreed. That “me first” trap is on every leadership golf course, so to speak.
I enjoyed this post so much!
I follow you on twitter and I have learnt a lot from you. I hope you don’t mind that I would put up this post on my blog- http://www.adaobiokwy.com ? Would want my readers to see this too!
I would be honored if you re-posted it. I’m glad you thought so highly of it. THANK YOU!
Reblogged this on Gr8fullsoul.