"Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility."
To this day the misconception that leadership is a power position and gives you privileges, is still very prevalent among people hoping to reach these heights.
When Drucker says privileges, he's not talking about being legitimately rewarded for your contribution, he's talking about an attitude that can lead to all sorts of problems - among workers and in some cases legal ones.
This is one of the reasons I've always counseled those wanting to be in a position of leadership to learn to take responsibilities for areas in a business that are suffering and in need of help. There's no better place to learn what responsibility is than there.
It also is the best trainer for leadership, because it teaches you what it really is.
Sometimes I've heard people talk in a way that this is generational, with older workers tending to come from the power and privilege position, while younger people tend to do the responsibility and team thing.
Yet in my involvement with business leadership, I've found it really has nothing to do with that at all. Every generation has its quota of both. I've personally seen just as many young as old people grabbing for power and privilege, as have understood what it is to take responsibility.
Those in a business who learn to take responsibility will be the future leaders, regardless of title. Rank and title, as Drucker says, only really involves responsibility. Anything else is just a title. Our people know the difference, and will intuitively follow and emulate those that take responsibility, while resisting those who think it's all about power and privilege, again, regardless of a title.
You want to rise in a company? Learn to take responsibility. If you don't like being responsible, don't look to be a business leader, it comes with the territory.
Other Peter Drucker Resources:
The Man Who Invented Management
Beyond the Information Revolution
Remember to Sign up for my feed
Sponsored link: The outsourcing every manager requires - Tampa Locksmith
Comment Preview