By Jeff Whitaker
I get stopped at least once a week by someone telling me how much they miss NBC 40 and our local television news. For the record, I miss it too. The next question I get asked is what I’ve been up to since leaving broadcasting. The answer is that I’ve been utilizing the skills I gained over the years and passing them on to businesses, nonprofits and government agencies. In short, I teach, coach and train people in leadership, communications and public speaking skills. From time to time, I’ll write about these topics in my weekly column.
For the next couple of weeks, I wanted to talk about leadership. You might think that doesn’t really interest you because you don’t consider yourself a leader. Before you jump ahead of me, hear me out. We are all leaders in one way or another. You may not be at the top of the corporate ladder at work or have people who report to you, but that doesn’t mean you don’t lead. Whether on the job, at home or in our private lives, there is at least someone who looks to you for advice, guidance, direction and influence.
This week, I wanted to share my thoughts on leadership from a business standpoint. The truth is much of what I’ll share can apply to any level of leadership on the job or in our personal lives. If I hear one thing over and over again, it’s that we have a vacuum of real leadership right now in the corporate world and elsewhere. So, if there is such a need to develop leaders, what is the solution?
Harvard Business Review asks that question and offers this answer. The authors of an article in the publication say that the traditional way of developing leaders (through higher education classes, degrees and even companies bringing in outside consultants) just isn’t working. Here is why: They say that much of the approach to training and leadership development until recently has focused on understanding financials, theories of management, and, too often, skills that may be considered important but difficult to apply on the job. There has been what Harvard Business Review calls a “skills transfer gap.” This is the idea that what is rarely learned is rarely applied.
So, what does that mean for those in leadership? What is needed in the workforce now is practical, everyday insight and wisdom on how to lead. We don’t have time for a lot of high and lofty theories.
When you boil it all down, it’s not enough to teach textbook theories and ideas. People model what people see. Think about it. It’s the same way in our personal lives. If you have children, you know that they watch us as parents. What they see, they repeat or act out. That’s why great leaders model the values and actions they want to see in others. This applies to work and at home.
My mentor, John Maxwell, says that leadership is influence, nothing more and nothing less. What kind of influence are you, and who is looking to you to lead them?
Jeff Whitaker is a veteran broadcaster here in South Jersey. He now draws on his experience and training to work with companies and individuals to develop effective storytelling, communications and leadership skills. Find free resources and ways Jeff can work with you at jeffwhitaker.com
