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The Extreme Leader’s Mantra

10.25.10

It’s always true, but particularly in these challenging times, you have to find a way to fall in love with your life’s work; otherwise, your energy will wane, your voice will falter, and there will be nothing to prove but the fact that you’re taking up valuable space.

And you certainly won’t be helping to develop and perpetuate the Extreme Leadership approach that our world so desperately needs right now.

I believe that our individual and collective challenge is to live up to this ideal:

Do what you love in the service of people who love what you do.

There are three parts to this mantra:

1. Do what you love: Make sure that your heart’s in your work, and that you’re bringing yourself fully and gratefully into everything you do. If you’re not connected to your own work, you can’t expect to inspire others in theirs.

2.In the service of people: This is what keeps you true, honest, and ethical at the very least. If you’re doing what you love, you’ll make yourself happy, but if that’s all you’re doing, you’re a narcissist, not a leader. Leadership is not only about you; it’s about your impact on others and your ability to help transform things for the better. Ideally, for all of us.

3. Who love what you do: This doesn’t mean that you should only find the people who already love you and just serve them–although it may, in some circumstances. (Have you ever fired a client, for example? I have). Mostly, it means it’s your responsibility to give everyone you serve something significant to love about you and what you’re doing for them.

How close are you to living this ideal? What can you change in order to get closer?

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  • Ben Archer

    I agree with Eleanor’s perspective on the third point. Initially it seems counter-intuitive but on second look (and with clarification from Steve’s response) it makes more sense. My knee jerk reaction is to want retain any client who is already being served, especially in the current economy. However, if the business relationship is not a good fit, even if the client remains “satisfied” it is in both parties’ interests to move on and find a better solution.

  • Mhalton

    I think this article gives good points. It is very important to make sure that you are still excited about what you do every day because otherwise it is impossible to be a good leader. Especially if you define a leader as someone who inspires others to give their best. I am a firm believer in leading by example. Furthermore, remembering that for all intents we are all working in service professions. We all need to work together to make sure that or organizations are functional evolving entities. While it is our employee’s jobs to “serve” us and do what is required of them, it is also our job to “serve” them by giving them the tools and leadership neccisary to do their jobs.

  • http://twitter.com/elbiddulph Eleanor Biddulph

    The third point gave me pause. Specifically where you say, “It’s your responsibility to give everyone you serve something significant to love about you and what you’re doing for them.” I hesitate to think that I serve to be loved in return. However, after re-reading a few times, I believe it is that love grows naturally out of transformational service freely given. Once again, you’ve made me think of leadership in a new way, Steve.

    • http://www.stevefarber.com Steve Farber

      Hey Eleanor!

      It’s just my way of saying that we should serve in a way that gives significant value to others–so much so, that they love what we’re doing for them.

  • Cindy

    Love this! We are in the process of helping our employees love what they do more and more. I long to hear them say they look forward to coming to work. NOT GOOD that they don’t say it already! They love the idea of having a job in an economy that is turning away new employees (we are adding employees, due to growth), but in our industry (cleaning cars, RV’s, Retirement RV homes) cleaning is not what most employees wanted to do “when they grew up”… I want them to want to be here, even if there were “someplace else to go” ~ That’s our focus this year… Thanks Steve

  • http://www.richerearth.com Eric

    The financial downtun has brought us closer to this, or so I hope. So many people that I know who have had to reinvent themselves have worked hard to make sure that the next step is what they love and that doing it involves people they like and respect. That’s certainly what I’ve done. Great post.