Thread
6 ways great leaders think differently:
Under Authority → In Authority
It's a big moment when someone is given their first leadership role.
Because how you handle authority reveals who you are.
In my experience, there are 2 primary failures of authority ⏤
Abdication and abuse.
It's a big moment when someone is given their first leadership role.
Because how you handle authority reveals who you are.
In my experience, there are 2 primary failures of authority ⏤
Abdication and abuse.
Abdication happens when you're given authority and don't take it.
Abuse happens when authority is used for selfish gain.
Weak leaders abdicate or abuse.
Great leaders take charge when they're put in charge,
But think first about the good of those they've been trusted to lead.
Abuse happens when authority is used for selfish gain.
Weak leaders abdicate or abuse.
Great leaders take charge when they're put in charge,
But think first about the good of those they've been trusted to lead.
Spotlight → Sunlight
I'm starting my annual Spring fight.
A battle to get grass growing in my yard.
I love trees, but trees are selfish.
They cast such a big shadow that they rob the surrounding grass of sunlight.
The tree thrives but everything around it dies.
I'm starting my annual Spring fight.
A battle to get grass growing in my yard.
I love trees, but trees are selfish.
They cast such a big shadow that they rob the surrounding grass of sunlight.
The tree thrives but everything around it dies.
The quality of a leader can be measured by what grows around them.
Marginal leaders crave the spotlight.
They thrive while others below them starve.
Great leaders intentionally prune back their branches to let the sunlight shine on those they lead.
Marginal leaders crave the spotlight.
They thrive while others below them starve.
Great leaders intentionally prune back their branches to let the sunlight shine on those they lead.
Side Of The Table → Seat At The Table
My first executive role was on a ridiculously talented management team.
I felt like the dumbest one in the room.
For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why they let me in the room in the first place.
I sat quietly to the side.
My first executive role was on a ridiculously talented management team.
I felt like the dumbest one in the room.
For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why they let me in the room in the first place.
I sat quietly to the side.
It took a year to recognize it was fear - not humility - holding me back.
As a leader, there are others that could be occupying your seat at the table.
Smarter. More talented. Better.
But great leaders recognize they're the one in the seat,
And act like they belong there.
As a leader, there are others that could be occupying your seat at the table.
Smarter. More talented. Better.
But great leaders recognize they're the one in the seat,
And act like they belong there.
Status Quo → Status Quo Disrupter
When I took the role I'm in now, my job was to disrupt the status quo.
I changed processes, reorganized, added technology, and shook up the culture.
It worked.
The company grew in every category.
I firmly patted myself on the back.
When I took the role I'm in now, my job was to disrupt the status quo.
I changed processes, reorganized, added technology, and shook up the culture.
It worked.
The company grew in every category.
I firmly patted myself on the back.
Several years into the new reality I had built, I had a painful realization.
I was now the status quo.
Today's innovation becomes tomorrow's handcuff holding back the business.
If you let it.
Great leaders don't pat backs for long.
They get up each day,
And keep disrupting.
I was now the status quo.
Today's innovation becomes tomorrow's handcuff holding back the business.
If you let it.
Great leaders don't pat backs for long.
They get up each day,
And keep disrupting.
Comfortable → Challenged
For much of your career, you are being invested in by others.
Someone's job duties include seeing you grow and develop.
There are formal reviews, training programs, stretch assignments.
Then you become a leader,
And no one monitors your development.
For much of your career, you are being invested in by others.
Someone's job duties include seeing you grow and develop.
There are formal reviews, training programs, stretch assignments.
Then you become a leader,
And no one monitors your development.
I heard a speaker ask a powerful question:
How is your unwillingness to grow holding your organization back?
There's an overwhelming human drive towards what's comfortable.
Great leaders resist it.
They intentionally place themselves in uncomfortable contexts.
How is your unwillingness to grow holding your organization back?
There's an overwhelming human drive towards what's comfortable.
Great leaders resist it.
They intentionally place themselves in uncomfortable contexts.
Actual Value → Perceived Value
As a leader, I struggle with the lack of tangible measures of success.
It's hard to point to what you did each day and say, "Today, I led well."
If you struggle with that too, I have good news for you.
It doesn't matter.
As a leader, I struggle with the lack of tangible measures of success.
It's hard to point to what you did each day and say, "Today, I led well."
If you struggle with that too, I have good news for you.
It doesn't matter.
Leaders are measured by perception, not reality.
Which is why great leaders recognize the importance of small things like:
- How they interact with people
- Following through on commitments
- Clearly communicating
- Staying organized
They let little things create big value.
Which is why great leaders recognize the importance of small things like:
- How they interact with people
- Following through on commitments
- Clearly communicating
- Staying organized
They let little things create big value.
Thanks for investing your time in my thread.
If it helped you, I'd be grateful if you'd:
•Retweet the first tweet so others find it too
•Follow me @wdmorrisjr ⏤ it encourages me to keep writing!
If it helped you, I'd be grateful if you'd:
•Retweet the first tweet so others find it too
•Follow me @wdmorrisjr ⏤ it encourages me to keep writing!
