If you are in a formal leadership position in your organization. If you are a teacher, a coach or a trainer. If you are a volunteer on a condominium board of directors. If you are a Cub Scout or Girl Guide leader. Remember this: It is Not About You. 

It is easy to think it is about you. You are the one with the title. People call you Sir or Mam out of respect for your position, rank or title.  You are the one who is at the front of the room controlling the training (the participants control the learning). You are the one with the bigger office and the preferred parking stall (a whole different discussion). You are making decisions that will impact a large group of people.

The best leaders, teachers, trainers and coaches understand that it is not about them, it is about the people they have the privilege and honor of leading, teaching, training, coaching and serving. Your job is to help them to learn, to grow, to develop, to succeed, to recognize and achieve their potential and to become the best possible version of themselves. Your job is to make decisions based on what is best for the greater good, not is best for you. 

As Nancy Duarte writes in her book Resonate, and in a Harvard Business Review publication she wrote, “You are not the hero. The people you are leading or teaching are the heroes. Your job is to be the wise and humble mentor.” Serving as a wise and humble mentor not easy, but it is a critical mission. 

When you make it about those you serve, and not about you, it is easier to embrace the philosophy, “Take the blame and give away the credit.” When something goes wrong with your team, your division or your organization you immediately stand up as the leader and publically own it. You will get all the information to determine what happened, why it happened and you will take action to ensure that everyone learns from the experience and that the mistake is not repeated, but when it happens you immediately and publically stand up, own up and take the blame for what happened.

When things go well, as they often do, and everyone is raving about the great initiative or the success of the group or organization, you as the leader give away the credit, in all directions.

When you embrace and model the philosophy of “It is not about me” you make it easier for others to also embrace this mindset and in doing so you create a culture where people are focused on serving and helping other. Those who are only concerned with serving themselves will standout and either get onboard or move on. 

What’s Important Now? Seek to be the wise and humble mentor who takes the blame and gives away the credit. 

Take care.

Brian Willis

www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com

www.winningmindtraining.com

Maximizing human potential through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?

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