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ReaderStrength™
Inspire! What Great Leaders Do, by Lance Secretan
Last month’s issue ended with a request for your comments in regard to the name I selected for people from my generation. I said we could be called the Guzzlers. One reader of this same age group, turning age 25 between the years 1976-1985, had this to say:
I think the Guzzler label is applicable to our age group. Not only are our SUV's guzzling precious resources, but we have guzzled at the greed trough as well. Our group seems to have sacrificed values (integrity and family time) to achieve a better life than the Geezers. What many of us have been realizing is that the "better life" should have been found in simplicity and honesty instead of greed and materialism (executive compensation, scandals etc.) It seems to me the price we've paid has been far too high. Thanks for your ongoing contribution to leadership development.
Steve K., Plant Manager
Do you identify with the same frustration that Steve noticed about our current state of leadership in business and government?
If so, the book I selected to review this month is a possible remedy for weary leaders like Steve. The book is called Inspire! What Great Leaders Do, by Lance Secretan. It was just published in April of this year. The author calls us to abandon our outward focus on success and go within to discover our destiny, our cause, and our calling. He defines leadership in this way:
Leadership is a serving relationship with others that inspires their growth and makes the world a better place.
When I read the book, I had mixed feelings. I was personally inspired and at the same time concerned that the definition is too sentimental for business. The author describes two types of leaders: “Old Story Leaders” as coming from a position of fear and “New Story Leaders” coming from a position of love. I like this premise, but I am a pragmatist. I realize that if you and I go to the workplace and talk about love, our message will be seen as foolish - as too warm and fuzzy to inspire.
Secretan writes about the concept of servant leadership as if it is something that is now common in the workplace. I disagree; we haven’t reached the tipping point where there are more "New Story Leaders" than "Old Story Leaders." If we are going to bring along the "Old Story Leaders" - who still think that if they provide a strong vision, mission and value statement, people will be motivated to deliver superior performance - we need to guide them toward looking at what works and doesn’t work in today’s environment, rather than preaching about love and being a servant. That message will be scoffed at. Instead, one by one, we need to have the courage to support and guide them when they are confused and frustrated about why the old tactics no longer work. In order for us to be in a position to gently lead these "Old Story Leaders," we must be clear on what we are doing and why. Inspire! What Great Leaders Do is a book that can give you clarity. It calls you to discover your destiny as a leader. You can use it to clarify and define your own cause and calling for leading. In these three areas, the book inspired me to go within to find out why I choose to lead.
The book ends with seven key questions as a summary for everything presented in the book. I provide them here so you can begin thinking about your own leadership.
1. What is my Destiny?
2. What is my Cause?
3. What is my Calling?
4. Are my Destiny and Calling aligned?
5. How may I serve you?
6. How can I guide your contribution of brilliance and help you grow and be fulfilled?
7. Am I inspiring in what I say and do?
No matter what generational forces have shaped us, we have the opportunity to transform ourselves from the mentality of Guzzlers, who think about greed and come from a position of fear, to the mentality of Givers, who think about all people, even those who are still guzzling, and ask ourselves those final two questions. Once you have done that, you can better deal with the world of the Old Story Leaders who still populate our government and corporate offices.
About ReaderStrength™ We humans have been writing about leadership for more than 2000 years. Is there anything new and exciting to be said about the subject? Perhaps not, but still we hunger for information and inspiration. ReaderStrength is an e-publication that adds value to your busy life as a leader by pointing you toward books to fuel your inspiration as you lead yourself and others. Send us your ideas and favorite leadership books so that we can share them with others.
Each issue is archived at www.leaderstrength.com/Reader.htm
Copyright 2003, LeaderStrength Systems, Inc. 630 Freedom Business Center , Suite 300 * King of Prussia , PA 19406 • Leader Strength Systems
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