Position or title equals power.
There are two types of power, referent and legal.
Referent power, also referred to as authority, is based on trust and respect and is born as the result of consistent action. Legitimate or legal power is typically derived from a position and is based on both perception and reality.
The true foundation of leadership (meaningful leadership) is not based on legal power, it is based on authority, which is built on four basic pillars: service, love, sacrifice and relationships.
Service: Meeting the needs of those entrusted to us before we meet our own. Ensuring fairness and stability, which translate to providing the team with all the resources they need to achieve the goals they have been tasked with achieving, as well as removing the obstacles impacting the team’s ability to perform. These resources are not limited to additional headcount; it can also be proper vision, transparency of the commitments made with customers, the impact the team is having in the bottomline, the opportunities for future growth, linked to today’s performance, etc.
Love: Patience, kindness, humility, selflessness, respectfulness, forgiveness, commitment and honesty. These are all part of human skills that MUST be part of a meaningful leader that sets out to make a positive impact in the lives of his or her team.
Sacrifice: True leaders don’t set out to be leaders. They follow a code of conduct, deeply etched in their souls. They are not afraid to stand alone and make difficult decisions. They are strong enough to do what needs to be done, but sensible enough to listen and care about the concerns of others. This leader understands that his or her sacrifice is required and their example must be unshakable. They are capable of doing whatever it takes to ensure the well-being of the team while meeting the goals of the organization collectively, and they always conduct themselves with integrity and courage.
Relationship: Building trustful and lasting relationships for which all involved are better off. People treasure the people that bring out the best in them. A leader can only act to the extent that his or her jurisdiction allows. As passionate and engaged as a leader can be with the team, each person, each individual has a responsibility for his or her own well-being, as well as their individual duty and contribution to the team. Balancing both is key.
Thanks for reading and God bless,
Maria
