Leadership 101: Are You A Leader?

It was the late 90's. An acne-faced teenager named Craig had been putting in hard time (really, just two years part-time) at the local McDonald's. He worked hard, learned new tasks quickly, and had taken on the widely unpopular Saturday night close shift on a weekly basis. He even survived the Teenie Beanies craze. One day, he asked for some time with the store manager to discuss what he could do to get a shift supervisor position. Now, let me explain what this was really all about. The shift supervisor role meant I would get a pay raise from $5.75 to $7.25 per hour - yes, I remember that exact detail - and I could have a sharp blue polo shirt instead of a putrid magenta. Deep down, what I really wanted was an opportunity to shine... and not just from the greasy haze and fluorescent lighting that consumes a fast-food restaurant's kitchen. I wanted to prove I could handle the responsibility and challenge of taking on more. After my shift, I approached the store manager in his 30 square-foot office and asked what I could do to become a shift supervisor. He looked at me as though I asked for his job. In a dismissive tone, he barked that I "don't have the personality" to be in leadership and made it clear I would not be considered.

I've told you twice this week - basements go below ground.

I was crushed. I felt stuck in my magenta shirt forever. However, a growing new chain just came to town - Subway! I got an interview with the owner, got a higher-paying job than even the shift supervisor, and went on to work for this Subway through the rest of high school and even worked for another Subway on campus in college. I had earned the trust of the owner to the point he made me the store manager for the summer before college. And, yes, the movie rights are available for sale.

But today's blog isn't about my illustrious food service career - it's about leadership. More specifically, what makes a leader and what you can do to become one. Leadership is a topic I plan on discussing in many future blogs, but I felt it important to start broad and work through various leadership topics over time.

Naturally-Born Leader?

One of the common misconceptions about leaders is that they are only "born", i.e. you're either born a leader or you're not. Having read several leadership books over the course of my lifetime, they all essentially debunk this concept. I absolutely agree - but I wouldn't dismiss the idea of someone naturally-inclined to lead. Most people generally see leaders as extroverted, opinionated, strong-willed, and decisive. These can all be characteristics of a leader, but are they requirements? If someone has all these traits, are they actually a leader? To both, I would say no. From my experience, some of the best leaders are introverted, withhold opinions, remain flexible, and hesitate on decisions. The key is knowing which levers to pull, and when.

So You Want To Be A Leader...

Regardless of your current role, if you want to be a leader, there are a few key items to check off to prepare yourself for leadership:

Be good at your current job

If you're struggling to do your current role, it's hard for others to see you as a leader. This doesn't mean the best "individual contributors" make the best leaders - sometimes, it's even the opposite! However, showing you can handle the responsibilities of your current role - with moderate success and without substantial guidance - can highlight your leadership potential.

Assess your leadership opportunities

While the natural step into leadership may involve getting your leader's job once he or she gets promoted, retires, or leaves the company, don't limit yourself to that position. You may have other leadership opportunities within your organization that will allow you to get a chance to gain leadership experience. You could also look outside your employer. However, I advise you to be patient and open-minded in your search. Don't leave a good company simply to get the first chance for a promotion, and don't take just any job that comes available. While you may need to be flexible in finding your first leadership position, you can work your way (either through promotions or parallel moves) to get where you want to be. And don't think the job you want at 30 is the same as when your 40 or 50! Through experiences, you will find what you enjoy and maneuver to positions that best fit your skills.

Talk to your current leader

Even the most self-aware of us need an outside perspective. Talking to your current leader about your leadership ambitions may help you in several ways. First, your leader can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses to help you prepare for a leadership role. Second, your current leader may know of leadership positions coming open or can make introductions to other departments where you could step into a new position. Finally, most leaders would be very impressed by someone who exhibits interest in leadership, and keep you in mind for development opportunities down the line.

Will You End Up Being Michael Scott?

For anyone who watched The Office, you will recall that Michael (Steve Carell) struggled with the challenges of leadership throughout his time at Dunder Mifflin. Despite his sheer ineptitude to execute basic managerial tasks, he showed glimmers of having some leadership acumen. However, he struggled with the absolute loneliness of being in charge. Was he wrong about that? No, not at all. Leadership often can make you feel isolated from your team, and even make you the "bad guy" at times.

So are you doomed to feeling like you're on an island as a leader? While getting too close to your team can be a recipe for disaster, maintaining a friendly, supportive relationship with your employees will help foster a sense of camaraderie. But don't count on making best friends with your team. You are still the boss, and if you have to deliver bad news or make a tough decision some day, it will not go well if your team looks at your as a friend and not their leader. So can you have any close relationships at work? Absolutely. I would encourage new leaders to seek out other leaders and build relationships. Typically, if you're in a larger organization, there will be many opportunities for this with other departments you interact with through the course of business. Additionally, I've found my relationships with my leaders got stronger as I moved up in leadership roles. There's an added trust and mutual appreciation - you both know the challenges that come with leadership.

Well, this is the end of part one of many blogs I plan to do on leadership sporadically on Dough-Nuts. As I wrap up, I do want to mention one last consideration from my McDonald's experience. So that store manager who told me I didn't have the "personality" to be a leader? He was certainly no role model. One of the perks of his job was "free food", which he bragged about with regularity. He would often raid our prepared food - i.e. food ordered by customers - to take home with him. One of the bolder teenagers asked him why we couldn't just make him what he wants so we don't keep customers waiting in the drive-thru, he snapped back he can do what he wants, it's his store. So what did he know about leadership? As the childhood retort goes, takes one to know one!