A Google search of ‘measuring leadership effectiveness’ reveals nearly five million search results. Enough said that it is a complex issue.
What about if we judged a leader’s contribution by how far they grew their people and how much better their people became as a result of their leadership? Putting aside the difficulty of objectively measuring peoples’ growth and development, wouldn’t this force leaders to focus more on their people?
The 6th President of the USA, John Quincy Adams said this …
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
Almost 200 years ago, JQA knew that our job as leaders was to help people become MORE! Based on this notion, unless we are inspiring others to become more (or better), then we are failing our leadership responsibility.
So, reflect on this. Are you focused on helping your people to become better: to have better confidence, better skills, better experiences? Are you thinking about your leadership legacy? Are enough people feeling the ripples of your leadership influence?
I believe it is the leader’s number one responsibility to lift the people around them.
Are you prepared to be judged on your effectiveness as a leader by the difference you have made in your people?
