Leadership Is An Action

“Leadership is an action, not a position.” ~ Donald McGannon

Perhaps the most important practical move you can make as a behavior is to define leadership as behavior. In fact, you should find a way to define all of your values in behavioral terms. Be clear with your team about what is important to you, and show them the behaviors that define it.

Traditional leadership tells us it is a position - a person in charge who tells others what to do. But people and teams are defined by their behaviors, and the leadership is responsible for defining those behaviors. If you want to understand the culture of an organization, don’t ask their veterans to tell you about it - look at their new employees and see how they act. That is their culture. It is the behavior that defines who you are.

Leadership is action. It’s not a position. It’s influence that leads to behaviors. Define those behaviors for your team and let them take ownership of your culture.