Be Who You Are

A refrain from executives struggling with leadership issues has become all too common: “This position isn’t connecting my personal and business purpose. In fact, it’s doing quite the opposite.”

Self-reflection can be felt everywhere, which is probably typical during summer when business activity slows, and executives have too much extra time on their hands.

However, before anyone dismisses this condition due to only seasonality, it’s worth a closer look.

We all work hard to achieve what we think is success. Salary, status, position, and for the lucky few, making a difference. It’s what business thrives upon and for good measure. Profits have a way of funding dreams and ambitions as well as creating immense wealth for individuals and local communities.

Yet the fact remains that much of what business depends on eats away at our inner core over time. CEOs who become CEOs because that’s all they ever wanted suddenly realize that the position isn’t always what it’s stacked up to be. This realization is compounded by heavy demands, which we read about at ad nauseam in the press.

So what’s an aspiring leader to do? Well, the first step is to quit spitting out clichés or “pie in the sky” anecdotes from business books. Jack Welch may have a great point of view, but the fact is it may not apply to you or your organization’s situation. A far better use of time is to adapt your own situation to what the current environment demands. It may mean giving up a distinguished role or control over time to go a different route. For others it may mean adding interests or activities outside of work that complement the current range of motivations, desires and time demands. Some may even decide their calling is to make others better in their organizations vs. only advancing themselves.

What shouldn’t you do? Quit something proven without having a related capacity formed, both in your mind and in real practice. Try to be someone who you aren’t, or worse yet, focus on things that don’t come naturally to the point where it’s obvious.

If you’re a self-promotional genius who wants to be a rock star, then don’t try to come across as a benevolent leader. Transparency will unwind your act. Vice versa, if you’re an unassuming type who feels called to lead, then use those traits to your advantage. In short, dare to be who you are.