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Understanding and recognising good leadership is a big part of my life. It’s true that, when something is in the forefront of your consciousness, you see it everywhere. But I am still surprised when I recognise a leader where I didn’t expect to find one.
Author and motivational speaker, Charles Lauer, said “Leaders don’t force people to follow – they invite them on a journey.” This quote sums up perfectly an experience I have had during lockdown where I have been exposed to unexpected leadership. And it has been life changing, as all good, positive leadership should be.
A new pursuit
I’ve been looking for new pursuits during lockdown and have discovered running as a good way to keep fit. Now, I would always wholeheartedly state that I am NOT a runner. I don’t find it easy; it doesn’t come naturally; but I started taking part in some online training sessions while using my home treadmill. Led by Tommy Rivers Puzey (check out his Instagram), I joined in around 2 to 3 times per week and found these online sessions strangely captivating.
Tommy shares tips on how to run; techniques including body position and breathing; and he takes his followers on location-based runs all around the world. His style is very engaging. He shares information; history and geology mainly; about the location as well as his own lessons learned throughout his fitness journey.
Finding my motivation
I found his style and the fact that I was learning as I exercised incredibly motivating. Even though I have never met this man in the flesh, I felt I knew him. His support for my running was tangible. I felt part of a tribe.
The reason Tommy has been able to influence me and create this incredible bond virtually is because he brings his values and sense of being to the sessions. He genuinely wants you to succeed and to enjoy the running. This is true leadership in action. Not only has he had a profound impact on my experience of these sessions, he’s changed my mind about something I genuinely felt I was no good at.
I mentioned feeling that I was part of a tribe and this is a clue to why Tommy is, perhaps unwittingly, an amazing leader.
Leading by example
Often, in our business world, individuals are given a management position because they have significant knowledge of the operations of the business, or they have served a number of years and are therefore considered ‘more senior’ than their colleagues.
However, these are not necessarily the right reasons to put someone in charge of others. Leading by example is a powerful way of bringing your team along with you. Because you create a picture of what is possible, what is achievable, and what can be gained by participating, people naturally want to follow you. This style of leadership is effortless.
One of the best-known examples of leading by example can be attributed to Jack Welch, of General Electric. He knew there needed to be a step change under his leadership, so he turned the business on its head and created a ‘boundary-less organisation’. Everyone was free to think of ideas, brainstorm and present potential innovations. There was no need to wait for someone ‘higher up’ the organisation to suggest something. Welch promised to listen to the ideas, whoever came up with them. And, critically, he did.
As a result, GE became an incredibly successful company under his watch. He generated trust and showed people he was genuine through leading by example.
The journey continues
It’s safe to say that Tommy has touched my soul and this became more evident than ever when I recently learnt the sad news that he has become gravely ill. In a completely unexpected change of fortune, Tommy ended up in hospital and was diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary NK T-Cell Lymphoma. It’s another stage in an incredible journey and, because he’s one of my leaders, I will continue to follow it and hope it’s not the last.
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