Leadership is probably one

of the most talked about business concepts, but the least

understood. Leadership is about getting things done and

helping people reach their potential.

My experience has shown me

that most places fail to unleash the potential of those

working within their organization.

The reason is they practice

old-fashioned and outdated leadership concepts-they

practice leadership mythology.

A myth is something that is

false, but believed to be true. As in many things in

life, there are several myths surrounding the concept and

practice of leadership.

Unfortunately, these myths

prevent the most qualified people from rising to the top.

dispel many of the false beliefs.

Myth 1-Leadership is a rare

ability only given to a few. Many people still think

leaders are born not made. This can't be further from the

truth. Most people have the potential to become good

leaders.

Leadership is not like a

diet pill. Like most learned skills, it takes time,

training, and lots of trial by error. The key ingredient

making people good leaders is the ability to care about

others.

The second ingredient is a

sense of purpose, vision or mission. A good leader charts

a course and provides direction to those they lead.

Myth 2-Leaders are

charismatic-Many leaders are charismatic, but closer

scrutiny shows that most leaders are not. Some of the

world's most famous leaders had warts-some sort of

shortcoming or personality defect.

In a leadership role,

people skills are very important-more important than

technical skills. However, the best leaders are those who

work toward a goal.

Your cause, your purpose

and your mission in life will make you charismatic, not

the other way around.

Myth 3-The person with the

title, most rank or the highest position is the leader.

Ideally, the senior person

in the business should be a good leader.

However, authentic

leadership is not based on position or rank. It is based

on action, performance, ability and effectiveness. We all

can relate to working for those people who were placed in

leadership roles who did more to demoralize and destroy

the business than anything else.

The best companies strive

to develop and create as many leaders as possible.

W.L. Gore & Associates,

makers of GoreTex and other products, have a unique

approach to leadership. They practice natural leadership

They don't appoint any of

their leaders. . .they let the true leaders surface to

the top. People naturally gravitate to those they want to

follow and work with. There are no limiting job

descriptions, job titles and few rules and regulations.

If a person comes up with a

new product idea, he or she puts a team together of

people who have the desire and knowledge to make it work.

Myth 4-Effective leadership

is based on control, coercion and manipulation.

Leadership is about the

future, not the past. Joel Barker has the best quote

about leadership, "A leader is someone you would

follow to a place you would not go to by yourself."

Good leaders gain followers

out of respect and their ability to cause people to work

toward a particular goal or achieve a destination. People

follow because they can relate to the vision or goal

personalized by the leader.

A good leader helps people

become better than they are. A good leader creates a work

environment that attracts, keeps and motivates its

workforce.

Myth 5-Good leaders have

more education than other people. Educational degrees may

mean you have a good education, but it doesn't

necessarily mean you are a good leader.

When it comes to

leadership, experience is the best teacher. The U.S.

military has the best leadership development program in

the world.

In the military, you start

out at the bottom. You are placed in leadership positions

and closely evaluated by superiors.

As your experience

broadens, so does your responsibility. This practical

experience is reinforced with weeks and months of formal

training throughout the individual's career.

The secret of success is

those years of experience on the frontline. This is where

a person learns to manage those interactions, experiences

and conflicts.

You learn how to balance

the needs of the mission versus the needs of the

individual. Those officers and non-commissioned officers

who fail to advance must exit the military. The military

model of leadership development may not be perfect, but

remains unequalled by any other organization.

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