THE SECRET OF FLEXIBILITY
Leadership is one of the most interesting and powerful topics we can ever study. I continually search for leadership lessons because I am still learning. Brian Goldner (president and CEO of Hasbro) shares a life lesson about leadership that definitely caught my attention (Michelle Fay Cortez, “How Did I Get Here?: Brian Goldner” Bloomberg Businessweek , 3/9/15–3/15/15, p. 88):
“ Leadership evolves. You have to be flexible. ”
That flexibility extends even to the manner in which you directly relate to those who lead you and those whom you lead. It is easy to assume that everyone is at exactly the same place you are in leadership development. However, that assumption is a big mistake and it can get you in trouble.
One of the greatest fulfillments in leadership is being able to assess where another person is at and adjusting your style accordingly. This becomes a two-way street. In some cases, your adjusting to another person’s leadership level will create teachable moments for that person. You will find that you can contribute to that person’s leadership development. In other cases, your adjusting to another person’s leadership level will create learnable moments for you. You will find that you can receive valuable input for your leadership development.
And guess what? None of this would ever be possible without flexibility. A world-class gymnast masters her craft with flexibility. So too, does a world-class leader.
