What is a leader’s role?

We’re hiring someone to lead our in-house agency.

Part of the hiring process involves spending a trial day with us.

On that day, we bring in 2 team members who will be led by the person we’re hiring.

“What is a leader’s role?”

This was one of the questions my team decided to ask the candidates.

Take a minute… how would you answer?

I’ve found the answers people give quite interesting.

The answers were all practically the same.

“A leader’s role is to inspire/motivate.”

Do you agree?

I don’t.

If someone needs to be constantly inspired or motivated in order to work, then they’re probably in the wrong company, the wrong role or the wrong industry.

A company’s mission, or a leader’s goal, can be inspiring, people can see themselves in that mission and feel inspired and motivated to give it everything, but that’s a consequence and not the goal.

For me, a leader’s role is to take their team where they wouldn’t go on their own.

How?

By working, motivating and instilling discipline.

Being the first to set the example.

Those are some of the tools a leader can use to lift the members of the team.

It’s feeling the responsibility to have the hard conversations, because that’s what’s best for that person.

It’s giving praise when people do excellent work.

It’s being on the front line, shoulder to shoulder with your team.

Notice…

I don’t see the role of leadership as a perk, it’s not a bonus just because someone did a good job.

The role of leadership is a responsibility, it’s a constant sacrifice of putting your people and the mission ahead of your own ego.

It’s having an attitude of service.

A leader doesn’t choose their team, it’s the team that chooses to follow the leader.

Because in the end, real leadership isn’t measured by the obedience you get, but by the trust you’ve earned.

Not by the followers you have, but by the leaders you helped create.