In this post, I want to reflect on a leadership quote from Colin Powell. Specifically, his statement that “the day people stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them.”
Once again, Mr. Powell is right on. Leaders don’t have all the answers, but they are routinely a part of everyday decision-making. Direct reports, volunteers and others will seek them out for input because they see the big picture, provide meaningful comment and counsel, and ask the right questions. But this sense of a leader does not just occur … it matures over time in response to a history of getting things right … of getting things done.
Leaders have an obligation to kindle thinking and to stoke curiosity. They also have an obligation to grow and mentor their charges, and what better way in which to accomplish such than to work through their issues and problems with them. This is when relationships evolve and open discussion becomes a part of issue resolution and opportunity evolution. This is a supreme part of leadership.
And this brings about a challenge for leaders … when so pressed for time it is often very difficult to find the time to serve this critical role. To be sure, the issue of the day may sideline a leader altogether. But leaders find a way in which to be supportive of those who follow them, to nurture their thinking process and to give them reason to seek out their counsel again and again.
Author Cross-reference:
Colin Powell: None
Key Word Cross-reference:
Mentoring/Nurturing/Developing: Also see posts 12/8/08, 12/12/08, 1/13/09, 2/6/09, 6/5/09, 7/7/09, 9/9/09, 9/15/09, 10/26/09, 12/5/09, 1/6/10, 3/29/10
Tags: Leadership
on Leadership ... by Steven Davis, CAE 
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