Leadership in this fast-changing, instantaneous world is not about recklessly taking risks and performing magical feats. Compelling leadership today is about daring to have the courage to show up, challenge the status quo, and move people forward for what’s best. The world is in need of courageous leaders.
SHOW NOTES
0:49 – Jason shares the stories he heard as a kid of the daredevil Evil Kenevil; the stuntman of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Kenevil was in the Guinness book of world records with the most broken bones having 433 bones broken.
2:22 – Daredevil leadership is not reckless, it’s not about bravado, it’s about courage. Entering every single day with courage instead of recklessness.
4:50 – How we think of leadership matters. The image that you have in your head manifests how you think about leadership. If you think a leader is loud and yelling and barking orders, then that is a leader you will seek. If you think a leader is kind, courageous, encouraging, then that is what a leader is to you.
6:50 – Jason asks teams and organizations all across the world, who are the most compelling, the most influential that you have seen in your life? Guess how many times people would answer a master dictator at the top of the pyramid that barks out orders telling others what to do? Zero. Not once has anyone described a true leader that way.
8:28 – The image of leadership and the most influential leaders do not see themselves at the top of the pyramid. In fact, they see themselves at the bottom of the pyramid, to put people in positions so they can be successful. Think about what it means to lead, matters.
10:20 – The attributes that Jason has seen across organizations all over the world are the following seven:
- Being a servant leader. Flip the image of what it means to lead. Not about being at the top of the pyramid but at the bottom.
- We need to be storytellers. To bring vision, values to bring people together.
- A collaborator, a person that has great ideas and some of the answers but are instead great collaborators to bring everyone’s ideas together.
- Innovators, every leader is showing up to challenge the status quo. Find a better way to do what they do.
- Daredevils, encourage stepping up. How can we dare to begin, dare to challenge the status quo?
- Adapter, realize that change is everywhere. We must be able to adjust to adapt to change.
- Be global citizens, within your team and organization they have to see the bigger picture, the bigger mission and how all the parts fit together.
16:01 – Where we look is where we go. If we can’t define what it means to be a leader and what it looks like, then we can’t be surprised when it doesn’t exist.
Questions to ponder, step back and ask:
- All of these seven attributes are needed but what needs to be more developed on your team? – Servant leadership, storyteller, collaborator, innovator, daredevil, adaptor, global citizen?
- What is your mission as a leader? Do you know your mission?
- How do you want to be described by how you lead in your life and your work?
The world needs more daredevil, not reckless, but courageous leaders, authentic leaders, & compelling leaders to serve something greater than ourselves and rally people for powerful missions. Remember, it’s not about recklessly challenging the status quo, it’s about daring to be courageous, to serve people, and to serve a mission greater than ourselves. Dare to lead today!
If you like the podcast, have a question, or just want to share your thoughts for about daring to begin please leave a comment below.
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ABOUT THE THERMOSTAT
Conversations and micro-thoughts to engage your mind and heart.
A thermostat is proactive. It sets the temperature in a room. Controls the temperature. Regulates the temperature. But in today’s distracted, fast-paced and digital world, it’s easy for individuals and organizations to act more like thermometers, slipping into reactionary thinking, becoming scattered and inconsistent. The most compelling leaders, teams, organizations, families or collection of humans of any kind operate in thermostat mode. They calibrate their mind and heart to set the temperature for the vision and culture they want to create. Jason Barger, globally celebrated author, keynote speaker and founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting, is the host of The Thermostat, a podcast journey to discover authentic leadership, create compelling cultures and find clarity of mission, vision, and values.