I first learned about leadership at the very beginning of my
time in the Air Force. Indeed, that first lesson in leadership has since been
reinforced many times over in both my professional and personal lives.
I learned that there are two types of respect given to
leaders: the respect of their rank (or position) and the respect of the person.
Respect of rank is a given. Rank describes the position of
an individual in the hierarchy of an organisation. You salute the rank even if
you don’t know or respect the individual.
Respect of the person is something that is earned. This
respect takes time to develop and comes from really getting to know the person
behind the rank. It is gained through the example set by that individual’s
actions and behaviour. This is the type of respect that may see others
following that person to the death – no matter what rank they hold.
Respect of the person is much deeper than any respect of rank.
A
Word on real respectWhy is it that when new managers are promoted to a leadership role, so many of them beat their chest and demand that their staff respect them personally? Why should they be respected as individuals by their team? After all what have they done personally to earn their team’s respect—other than getting promoted?
A Billion Dollar Leader is someone who understands that real
respect from the people they lead, respect that goes beyond that for their
position and which is for the individual themselves, is a respect that must be earned.
The Billion Dollar Leader knows it is what they do and how they
do it that will earn them the real respect of the team.
They know they have to work to gain this respect and that it
is not automatically given. They know it is what they do and not the work of others that generates this respect. They
understand that reputation counts for little and that what they have done in
the past is nowhere near as important as what they do now and in the future.
They know that true respect for them as an individual can
only be given voluntarily and not forced from their team.
The Billion Dollar Leader knows that they have a position to
fill and a role to perform. They understand that the traits and behaviours they
display as a person, their own characteristics, personality and integrity are
what will lead their team to respect them.
Importantly though, they understand the difference between
being liked and being respected. To the Billion Dollar Leader, respect is more
important than being liked. They are willing to be disliked for what they do.
Far too often managers will attempt to do only the things
that they think will be popular with their staff and hope to gain respect that
way. Their teams certainly like the easy life that such a leader brings to the
workplace, but in the end this management style does not earn respect—often the
exact opposite. Their team members will often pick this up as a sign of
weakness in their leader and lose
respect for them as a result.
A Billion Dollar Leader doesn’t expect respect. They understand
that it is an honour they must earn and that it can never be forced from their
team. They are often humbled when they do receive it—but are pleased to have
earned it.
That’s what makes the Billion Dollar Leader so special and so successful!
All Success
Colin
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