One quality of a good leader is accepting responsibility. I learned this valuable lesson from a man named Mike Pulliam.
Mike helped all of us realize that it was a privilege to lead, and that good leadership meant setting the example, developing others, and supporting them along the way.
He established an environment where his senior leaders delegated as much as possible to junior leaders. We were given the authority to make decisions and empowered to act, and this enabled us to learn and grow.
As junior leaders on Mike’s team, we felt like valuable employees because we were trusted to make decisions.
More significant, however, was his example and how he demonstrated that accepting responsibility was one of the key leadership traits.
Leadership in Action
On one occasion, a junior leader had made a poor decision that gained unwanted attention from Mike’s boss. The next thing we heard about the result of that poor decision was …absolutely nothing.
We wondered why nothing came of it, and it wasn't until later that we learned Mike had taken the heat.
As our leader, he believed it was his responsibility to train his team and allow us room to make mistakes. He believed that if we could choose, we would do the right thing.
Instilling Loyalty
How do you think his supportive actions made us feel?
We felt that we let down a man we deeply respected and his actions simply firmed our resolve to work harder.
Mike motivated and inspired, teaching us that accepting responsibility was one of the key leadership traits we needed to develop.
When we were asked to do anything above and beyond our job description, we agreed without hesitation.
How do you say no to someone who teaches you and has genuine interest in your personal growth?
Definition of Authority: "the power to enforce rules or give orders, a privilege given to an individual in a management or supervisory position."
The key to whether a supervisor is perceived as a manager or a leader rests with how they exercise authority. While some believe that leadership is a natural talent, it can be learned.
Definition of Responsibility: "a duty or obligation where someone is held accountable."
When managers hold themselves accountable for their actions as well as those of their team, they transform themselves from one who has the power to enforce rules and give orders to a leader who inspires and motivates others.
Good leaders delegate authority; they never delegate responsibility!
