by Guest Author Nan S. Russell
Bottom line? The workplace needs you.
At a time when our economy struggles, employee engagement remains low, job satisfaction is down, and trustworthiness is the top quality that people want in their leaders, a successful work future starts by owning your piece of it.
However, if that’s not enough to convince you of the importance of being a leader today, here are three other reasons that might:
1. The new reality. The post-recession workplace harbors a new reality – influence and authority are no longer guaranteed by position. Those who can earn natural and enthusiastic followers through their actions, not their positions, will deliver the best results. That’s because trusted leaders in this era of distrust will be the ones rewarded with the innovative ideas and discretionary efforts of others.
2. Anywhere leaders. If you’re like most people right now, you’re being asked to get results from co-workers who don’t report to you, lead initiatives without acknowledgement or authority, make things happen without traditional performance or reward tools, and influence cross functional or generationally diverse groups. Whether you’re in a cubicle or a corner office, your strength today comes from leading with the right actions, skills, and behaviors. Being able to lead from any position is now a workplace necessity.
3. Tomorrow’s results. You can’t stop change. But as a leader today, you can harness it for better results tomorrow. Your ability to transform with the times, and lead others to do the same, will enhance or diminish tomorrow’s results, both yours and your organization’s. Who would you follow? Someone having a difficult time transitioning from change, or someone able to lead others into the future with knowledge and perspective?
We can debate the facets of leadership, the types of leaders, and the importance of leadership skills. But none of that answers the question of why it’s important today to be a leader.
The way I see it, you can either be a passenger perpetuating yesterday’s workplaces or a driver leading toward tomorrow’s. What do you want from tomorrow’s workplaces?
Answer that question and you’ll also answer why being a leader today is important.
Nan S. Russell is the author of The Titleless Leader (May 2012, Career Press); http://www.thetitlelessleader.com/
Nan S. Russell: The Titleless Leader: How to Get Things Done When You're Not in Charge