YOU CAN TEACH LEADERSHIP--TREAT IT LIKE A TRADE

TEACH LEADERSHIP LIKE A SKILLED TRADE----BE THE MASTER TEACHER


Most of us will say leadership is both an art and a skill but we forget to teach it as a tangible skill.
And you, as a top leader, are the best person to teach your top talent.

It does demand some self awareness on your part.
Easy enough to get if you are bold enough to ask others about your impact.
And it does demand sharing parts of your role--meaningful parts of your role.

Here is how skilled artisans are taught:

l.  They watch the Master 
2. They do the work with the Master
3. They do the work alone and the Master watches and gives support and feedback.
4. They do the work alone

Think of how you might make these steps explicit with each of your direct reports.  Or with your named successor.  These steps are indeed used to develop talent  but often with a rather vague approach.  Make it clear as a development/ apprenticeship pattern.

l.  Watch me do the analyst call.
    Here's what I want to accomplish.
    Talk with me after to share observations.

2.  Next time, prep with me for the part on logistics.
     I will ask you to speak about investment in systems.

3.  The 3rd Quarter you will prep and present on the ROI on the logistics 
     investments.  I'll support if needed and critique after.

4.  You handle the logistics at BOD and Analyst calls as needed.  Be ready to 
     present each quarter. 

The blind spot here is that we can get too tied up in our underwear (a quote from many leaders I worked with)  about leadership skills. It can be made too esoteric.  Treat it like an artisan skill and be the Master Teacher.  You are anyway, so you might as well do it consciously.  You'll get more of what you want.