strong leaders

A company needs strong leadership to succeed.

(A company, a school, a team, a family, a project, a mission, an organization…)

Strong does not mean demanding, bullying, tight-fisted, harsh, exacting, bossy, arrogant, selfish, overly critical, or brazenly pushing through the front lines to put on a show and keep up appearances of being in charge.

Essentially, strong does not mean bullish.

Strength is so much more.

Strong leadership gives the support, training, and help the teammates need.

Strong leadership gives direction for everyone following. If the travelers are lost or have no vision or path, the caravan won’t make it very far.

Strong leadership asks questions and has the humility to say things like, “I’m new at this, can you help show me what I need to learn?” and “I don’t know, but I will work on that and get back to you.”

Strong leadership is caring, invested, and empathetic. A good leader sees their people; they never just show up and act as a warm body, or check out and go through the motions. A good leader is engaged in the meaning and importance of the task at hand, the story being told, the impact being made. A good leader brings heart, courage, and emotion to work and asks and allows others to do the same. They listen well. They have connection with their team, and it shows.

Strong leadership is intentional, organized, and thoughtful. There is a plan, and there is a process for making a plan, and everyone is considered and taken care of.

Strong leadership is wise and patient.

Strong leaders work hard and work well.

I’ve been on the receiving end/under the guidance of both excellent leadership and very poor leadership.

I have had strong, caring, impactful leaders: qualified, doing their very best, contributing massive value to everyone around them and everyone working under them, and always wanting to grow. Some of them, I still think about on a regular basis, and the effect they had on me was so significant it’s still rippling, even if they are no longer my boss or teacher or leader now.

I have also had others who were supposed to be leaders but were bullies, or were too immature or dramatic to lead, or were too removed and uninterested in the process, the meaning, the results, and the team to actually get involved and make a difference.

I have been a leader, as well. I was an employer for a couple years, over a small team of wonderful music teachers, and I cared very deeply about our work and the families and kiddos we taught and spent time with. I was proud, delighted, honored, and grateful to have musicians working with me and willing to come together to cooperate in building and tending to our studio. I wanted to take good care of them, have good relationships with each of them, and keep the success of the business growing smoothly.

I think a lot about the time I spent as a boss, and I know I did my best at the time. In many ways, I had so much to learn, and I’m still learning. I remember things I hope I did well, parts of my leadership and vision that were successful, and elements of our team I think thrived. I also remember some levels of disorganization, feeling fear in the face of difficult conversations and decisions, and some things I really wish I had done better.

In the unfolding story of our lives, when we are fortunate enough to have good leaders, may we pay attention, treasure, respect, and learn from them. When we are given the meaningful duty of leading, may we lead well and with our true selves, ready to see and serve our teammates’ true selves.