If you’re looking to learn a little something about leadership, you don’t have to look far. A simple Google search yields countless results. As a dean and professor of leadership who’s written several books on leadership, I am often called upon to share my thoughts. A question today’s leaders should ask themselves is how do we learn from what’s happening around us that may affect how we lead? So instead of providing a familiar set of tips on how to be a more effective leader, allow me to share several insights I keep drawing from as I lead the College of Business Administration (CBA).
Our CBA mission puts leadership front and center and calls for us to “develop business leaders with moral courage and creative confidence to be a force for good in the global community.” Where does the “secret sauce” come from? As leaders, we draw from our own experiences and from the influences of those we admire, those we choose to be different from, and those we can learn from. I often get inspired by coaches and players who look to do more than just win. As Babe Ruth famously said, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” Leaders who recognize talent and, more importantly, ensure that hard work, grit, and that “never give up” attitude is rewarded are destined to find synergies in an organization built around people and shared goals. It’s easy to spot expertise on a resume; much more difficult to discern the inner strengths of someone who never gives up. Great leaders don’t give up on others – they work hard to bring out the best in every colleague for the betterment of the organization.
One of my favorite inspirational leaders was former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who said, “as a leader, you have to have the ability to assimilate new information and understand that there might be a different view.” Great leaders value diverse perspectives and accept that their answer is not always the right answer. A secret to my success as a leader is surrounding myself with extraordinary people. My favorite mantra to my staff is there’s no problem we can’t solve if we put a bunch of smart people around the table to come up with the best solution.
Another impactful leadership lesson comes from “The Wizard of Oz.” Remember when Dorothy pulls the curtain back only to discover that the mystique of the “great and powerful Oz” was a fraud? The lessons I learned from that scene are gleaned from avoiding the disappointment that Dorothy experienced which speaks to the significance of authenticity. In short, what’s behind the curtain matters. No amount of PR or fake boldness will instill confidence in those you lead. Who you are and how you present to the outside world need to be aligned. Dorothy learns that lesson from her ensemble cast—she had what she needed all along. At LMU, we talk about developing moral courage and creative confidence—key qualities of not being afraid to speak out and do the right thing. Embracing your knowledge and commitment to being a force for good is not magic—it’s what you bring to the organization in meaningful ways. So, though the wizard turned out to be not so powerful, he did reveal a key leadership trait that helped Dorothy and company find what they were looking for – their authentic selves.
A more recent example of leadership that resonated with me comes from the popular TV series “Ted Lasso.” One scene, in particular, made an impression. Ted’s boss, Rebecca Welton, is invited to a meeting to form a global league that will put more money in the hands of team owners. Rebecca is hesitant to attend, believing she’s only been invited because she’s a woman. There are several takeaways here. A colleague reminds her that the reason for the invitation should be irrelevant – she now has a seat at the table. We see Rebecca put her anxiety aside, find her inner confidence, and advocate against the proposal. Demonstrating both moral courage and creative confidence, she calmly reminds the other owners what’s truly important – the beauty of the game and the loyal fanbase. The antagonist quickly loses support and viewers applaud Rebecca for how she handled herself. She learns, as did many characters in “Ted Lasso,” the power of belief! Belief in oneself enables skill, power, and influence to come alive. In short, as I reflect on my own experiences as a leader and where I draw inspiration – real or fictional – the ingredients for the secret sauce are clear: 1) Grit, determination, and hard work; 2) Diverse and collaborative teams ideating on the best solutions; 3) Authenticity (what’s behind the curtain matters); 4) Belief in yourself and helping others believe in what they bring to the organization; and 5) Moral courage and creative confidence (when you have a seat at the table, make a difference).
Dayle M. Smith, Ph.D., is dean of the LMU College of Business Administration. For more information, visit cba.lmu.edu.
