LEADING GOES BEYOND READING 📚

Travel back in time with me to my junior year in college. I landed the role of Vending Manager & Assistant Concessions Manager for the Milwaukee Brewers, daunting at any age let alone at just 20. As the fresh green paint glistened on the newly built Miller Park, I was stepping into a world that was as foreign to me as a rookie stepping up to the plate for the first time.

Starting from nothing in an empty stadium with no field or seats, I embarked on my first assignment: shuttling supplies in a golf cart to set up all the concession stands. After a few months, I witnessed the stadium transform into an energetic space ready to welcome the fans and eventually an All-Star Game.

I was now eager to hire, train, and lead a team! Yet, that lingering doubt snuck in: “Am I truly prepared for this responsibility?” I was overwhelmed and nervous. I was uncertain if I was up to the task. Would people listen to me? Would people respect me?

My team was built to be in a league of its own with 200 employees, including the voices you hear yelling “beer here” as you enjoy the game and those tossing peanuts and Cracker Jacks into the eager hands of fans. Half of them were not ordinary employees. They were veterans who had honed their craft over years, if not decades.

Just picture it - a green, wet-behind-the-ears college kid stepping in to direct this orchestra of seasoned performers. The challenge seemed as intimidating as hitting a curveball on a rainy night. Leading people, I would soon learn, was a world away from just understanding the theory of it through business and management classes. I knew how to manage systems and processes, but I didn't know how to lead people. I could easily check people in, create staffing schedules, and order products; however, I had no clue how to assign work, give feedback, and hold others accountable.

But here's the twist - that intimidating experience was not the trial by fire I anticipated. Instead, it became my foundation, the bedrock of my understanding of leadership. This experience shaped my path, influencing my approach to leadership and team building. I was not just ordering them around, rather I was learning from them, growing with them, and gaining insights that no classroom or book could ever teach.

A quick search on Google for “leadership books” produces about 3 billion hits. The same search on Amazon returns over 60,000 results. That’s a lot of reading and information. The good news is that you don’t need to read all those books to become a good leader. The bad news is that becoming a good leader is much more complex than reading a bunch of books.

A few years ago, I stumbled upon the book Credibility by @James M. Kouzes and Barry Posner, Ph.D.. Inside of it, I learned that credibility is how leaders earn the trust and confidence of their people. It’s about what people demand of their leaders as a prerequisite to willingly contribute their hearts and minds to a common cause and the actions leaders must take to intensify their people’s commitment.

Sure, reading Credibility might help me become a leader people might follow, but reading this book or the other 59,999 leadership books on Amazon won’t solely make you a leader any more than reading 60,000 cookbooks will make you a chef. Eventually, you’ve got to get into the kitchen! Becoming a good leader is about going through the sometimes-painful experience of getting your hands dirty.

Think about your first leadership experience. Do you remember the uncertainty and learning curve? You're not alone. A study conducted by Grovo states 87% of managers wish they were given the chance to learn how to lead others when they first assumed their management role. This underscores the invaluable need for leadership development programs that include practical application activities.

Leadership isn't about being born with it - it's a choice, a skill that can be nurtured and developed. As heads of companies and organizations, we bear the responsibility to cultivate leadership in ourselves and others. Like a muscle, leadership grows with practice and intentional effort. Transform your leadership journey by embracing learning opportunities, seeking coaching, and gaining experiences that mold you into the strong, impactful leader you aspire to be.

Share a moment that pushed you to become a better leader.