Leadership and Marketing, Part I
Today I received an email from a company stating that I “need to attend (company’s) workshop if I want to have effective leadership skills and increase my presence in the market”. After reading through the offer I realized that what they were really offering was a workshop capable of increasing my ability to manipulate and spread fear. Just as their advertising didn’t work on me, it also isn’t “the secret” to increasing my leadership skills or presence in the market.
The email led to thinking about the qualities of a good leader and if those qualities could be taught in a workshop.
By definition, a leader is someone who rules, guides, or inspires. A workshop could teach postures and verbal cues that make it more likely that another will follow your suggestions (rule), it could teach someone how to reach emotions that will motivate others (inspire), but I don’t think that anyone would ever leave a workshop being a better guide. You could leave a workshop understanding what needs to be done in order to be a better guide, but if you weren’t already a leader in that sense when you came to the workshop, you won’t be one when you leave without putting in some significant work and time.
Rulers tend to impose their own thoughts and desires of what is best. For at least a small group of people that will be fine, but I believe that there is no one right way and I want to have my ideas considered. Motivators tap into our emotions and inspire us to be more. That is important, but emotions change especially when things get tough. That is why I most value the “guide” aspect of being a leader. If I am going to follow someone I want to know that they know how to get to where I want to go (either they have been there themselves or they have repeatedly and successfully aided others to the desired destination), they understand the known cost of going, and they will be honest about the positives and negatives they encountered along the way. Someone can quickly learn tricks of the trade when it comes to ruling or inspiring, but if they are to guide, they will work their way to that ability. So in my opinion, even the best workshop will be of limited value when it comes to teaching someone to be a leader.
I think that the real secret to increasing leadership skills isn’t a secret at all. Leading is seldom done in our moments of glory but is instead best exemplified in consistently making conscious choices in line with who we want to be at our best. Every choice that I am presented with can be made based upon whether or not it takes me closer to or further from the person I want to be. If I look at each choice in that manner, I can make good choices even when fear, doubt, or difficulty tries to sway my decision. It is my attempt to, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” And if I do that day in and day out, eventually I become capable of guiding others to make choices that take them closer to their “best self” and to the changes they seek to make.
Stay tuned for part II and the marketing side of the discussion…
Until next time, may your choices today create a healthier and more balanced you tomorrow!
Kathryn
[...] While I took a slight detour, here is Part II of Leadership and Marketing [...]