"Those who exercise leadership will be rewarded."
Leadership isn't a title, it's something that's done. Those are the first thoughts that came to my mind when reading this quote from Herb Kelleher.
Rewards should be connected from those actually exercising leadership, title or no title, not to those who aren't doing it.
For those looking for leaders within a company, the only prerequisite should be those that are "doing" leadership. We should be scouring our businesses for doers in this area.
From the point of view of wanting to be promoted. If you want to move up in a company, act like you have a title already (if that's important to you), and work as if you're already in that position.
Those seeing themselves where they want to be and then acting out what you would do if you were, will eventually get to where they want.
For the most part (there are exceptions), most people successful in business leadership will exercise leadership whether they have a title or not. Leadership is more who you are, which is something that can't be hidden, as who you are will be expressed practically in what you do.
Those types of actions will be discovered and rewarded in any business, which so desperately need great leaders.
The bottom line is we need to be looking for those exercising leadership, or be those that are exercising leadership in a business.
Other Herb Kelleher Sources:
Herb Kelleher on the Record, Part 1
Belief Model for The Leadership of Herb Kelleher (Southwest Airlines)
Herb Kelleher, Chairman, CEO and President, Southwest Airlines
Remember to Sign up for my feed
Sponsored link: The outsourcing every manager requires - Tampa Locksmith
Comment Preview