My old friend, Zane Safrit, CEO of Conference Calls Unlimited, tells how he’s grappling with the challenge of being seen as THE BOSS, not just good ol’ Zane. He says:
“The first required change in my perspective came soon after I became CEO. That’s when I realized my friends/colleagues in the company no longer saw me as Zane. No, they saw me as The CEO. And everything I said was heard as coming from The CEO.” (Read his blog post here).
Whenever we step into a leadership role–whether it’s CEO, Principal, Project Manager, or Parent, for that matter–we step under the microscope, and people watch everything we do. Everything. And then they interpret all of our actions as signs of what’s really important around here–regardless of what it says on our values and mission statements.
As Marshall McLuhan once famously said, “The medium is the message.”
And as a leader–like it or not–you’re the medium.
I can sympathize with Zane. When I became a director of my company, it was amazing at the metamorphasis of my colleagues. Everything I say and do is being examined and, at times, scrutinized. I am a ‘true believer’ in the LEAP and it has made the transition easier and everyone is energized at making a difference in our industry and in our own lives. Thanks Steve!!!!
I can sympathize with Zane. When I became a director of my company, it was amazing at the metamorphasis of my colleagues. Everything I say and do is being examined and, at times, scrutinized. I am a ‘true believer’ in the LEAP and it has made the transition easier and everyone is energized at making a difference in our industry and in our own lives. Thanks Steve!!!!
” they interpret all of our actions as signs of what’s really important around here–regardless of what it says on our values and mission statements.”
One of all time favorite professors, Howard Hendricks, had this saying that captures this point exactly – more things are caught than taught.
Every leader soon learns the truth of that little phrase.
Great reminder – thanks for enlarging the conversation!
” they interpret all of our actions as signs of what’s really important around here–regardless of what it says on our values and mission statements.”
One of all time favorite professors, Howard Hendricks, had this saying that captures this point exactly – more things are caught than taught.
Every leader soon learns the truth of that little phrase.
Great reminder – thanks for enlarging the conversation!