Read a terrific blog post recently and shared with several people (now including you) about what a person has to give up when they become a leader. In Five Rights We Give Up To Lead, Dave Anderson shines a light on what those who have not yet climbed the ranks to leadership may have to look forward to.
The coaching style of leadership has been proven one of the most effective ways of leading in order to get results (Daniel Goleman, Leadership That Gets Results, Harvard Business Review); and it seems Anderson would agree: his article begins by discussing the new importance of coaching others. Your own success now depends on it. For many years now I’ve been teaching leaders of today and tomorrow how to use the coaching style for powerful results.
Letting go of your own time and some friends are not surprising to see on his list, but what may be: when you move into the role of leader, you give up both the right to complain and, sometimes, the right to defend yourself.
Bob Bartelt, Chief Technology Officer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, adds, “you also give up whatever skill brought you to the table for your specific area. You reference it but you don’t use it the same way.” He’s right: leading requires developing a new skill set.
Are you ready to let go? Are you ready to do what it takes to lead?
