Steve Jobs, J.K Rowling and Elon Musk.
Completely different, yet all creators.
The thing about creators is they create. They are, by definition, creative.
We find that this is actually the only thread that binds creators together. They don’t hang out together, they don’t enjoy the same food, political views or language. Some are extroverted, some introverted.
Leadership is the same.
While there are courses, textbooks, titles and positions that have surfaced to “frame” what it means to lead, these attributes look more like a scattergun distribution rather than required characteristics.
The role of “position” or hierarchy is an important one, because in day to day life, it unfortunately carries a lot of weight in our culture.
In “The Art of Possibility” Ben and Roz Zander introduce us to the concept of “leading from any chair.” Perhaps we have just started at an organisation, perhaps we are new at the gym, maybe we are just working somewhere temporarily…
The concept of leading from any chair encourages us to still step up. To still share our idea. To still try to make things better. To still lead.
In actuality, the downside risk of doing this is negligible. If you authentically chime in with an effort to make things better, your intention is noticed.
When we create a whole culture where this is fostered, the level of realised growth goes through the roof.
