Its all about influence and authority. Book after book on the stores’ shelves are speaking to an ever-increasing conversion, from power to authority. Power, defined by the position or title of the leader. Authority, determined and reliant solely on the relationship between the leader and follower and the rights the follower gives the leader.
Exceptional Leaders become so through their ability to influence and gain relationship authority with the Gen X/Y follower. The new generations have thrown positions and titles right out the door. More and more organizations title themselves as “Team Member” or “Teammate” rather than Manager, Director, and so on. Why? Because walking around with a title on your chest must mean that you rely on a name rather than your ability to be a great leader.
Some of the top components of a leader who can influence and maintain leader authority with the new generations include:
- Truly Caring about those following
- Prioritizing Leadership over Management (people over tasks)
- Casting Vision constantly
- Being flexible with competing life priorities of the follower (life is more jam packed than ever before)
- Leader Ethics – being a principled leader, relying on “foundational values” above “getting ahead”
- Leadership Support – supporting your followers no matter what
Leaders of others, the game has changed. Don’t sit back and rely on your position, power and title to do the job. As one of the great leadership quotes states “If you as the leader look behind you and no one is following, you are just taking a long lonely walk”.