Leadership is All About Letting Go…Letting Go of Power
When I am asked for the definition of leadership, I simply state…”leadership is all about letting go…letting go of power”. The reason why? Well, I think most human beings want to work in a high trust environment and be allowed to do their job. I call it the release philosophy and I base my leadership approach on an accountability model of releasing the reins, the harness that holds back your people from achieving greatness and personal fulfillment.
Bully Leadership
Coming from a command and control environment (policing), by default I became an expert in learning how to become a Commander. In other words, how to be an autocrat. Where power was hoarded, controlled and tightly held. I can tell you stories for hours about the quasi-dictators I studied, or watched in action throughout my research and professional career…instead of using the velvet glove, they pulled out the iron fist and ruled by bully management, fear and threats.
They were micro managers, control junkies, arrogant, filled with ego, and lived off their position power. Funny thing is, they were all not bad people at heart; they just were managing the way they were treated by their bosses during the industrial age era. So what I witnessed was a self fulfilling philosophy.
Do You Want Your Legacy To Be That of a Commander or Releaser?
I made a promise to myself…if I ever had a circle of influence where I led a team, there was no way would I be like that. Easier said than done, but I pushed myself every day using my mantra “let go…trust…release…pay attention, accept mistakes, adjust and try again”.
The Fear of the Unknown
So what is my message in this article? Simply put, letting go is the hardest act that a leader can take. Trusting your people and allowing them to spread their wings is the ultimate fear factor for many. It is the fear of the unknown…it’s the space between the high trapeze act where you let go of one ring, and are air borne towards the other. It’s the fear of what might happen. What if they screw up? What if they don’t deliver? What if I am wrong?
Well…get over it. Step up to the plate and show and simply be courageous! Nobody said being a leader is easy, and nobody said you will get it right the first time. Failure is the path to success…but only if you learn from what you let go and what worked, and didn’t. So, plan for mistake, “stuff happens”. Accept it, celebrate it and move on.
Smart Release
The most important factor in “letting go” is all around, how much do I let go, when, to whom, when and where? This is where you need to know the skill sets, capabilities and talents of your people. You cannot let everybody go at the same level. Everyone is different and smart release requires taking time to know your people, working with them individually, and holding them accountable to shared expectations.
Have you ever taken a dog for a walk on a leash? What happens if you unleash him with no training, no discipline, and no commands? – It runs away. Why? – Because you did not put the front end effort in to train, develop and support. Same holds true with unleashing people. With people “fast is slow”. It just takes time. But, this is time well worth your while. This is simply a “smart investment”.
Let Go of Power – Uncommand and Control
Final words…anyone can be a commander. You challenge is becoming a releaser.
Which one do you want to be?
For more information on the Release Philosophy – Click Here
