“No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.”
No Man Is An Island, John Donne
No man is an island. No leader is an island.
Leadership cannot be a solitary task. Even Steve Jobs at Apple failed miserably in the early days because he failed to mobilise his trusted board of directors.
A leader is nowhere without their trusted advisors. A great leader realises that to be truly effective, they must act with their community.
It is the only way to affect real change.
“Some of the greatest accomplishments in business, politics, and culture have come not from individual initiative alone but from those working in, with, and for community.”
When facing challenges or obstacles, the leader is always stronger with the weight of their team behind them. In isolation, the power of a leader is limited. Few of us are strong enough to face trying situations alone.
A leader that is dedicated purely to their own personal glory will always fail to reach their full potential. We are all better leaders when we seek counsel, advice and support within our business community.
If you are going to lead by example, you have to lead from within your team. How are you supposed to project the behaviours and values you expect onto your employees from an inaccessible parapet?
The buoying power of your team cannot be overestimated. They can lift you and your organisation to lofty heights and carry it forward. You have been chosen as a leader not because you are better than the rest of your team. You are in that position of responsibility because you demonstrated the qualities and attributes necessary to galvanise and involve the team, to empower them to lead themselves.
If you are lucky enough to be leading a fully involved community of employees, then you have a great power at your fingertips. Mobilise the power of that community, and your potential is endless.
If you would like to know more about how to act with your community, please do not hesitate to get it touch.