Mike Myatt, is a Top CEO Coach, author of “Leadership Matters…The CEO Survival Manual” and is the Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer at N2growth. As one of America’s top CEO Coaches, Mr. Myatt is a sought after professional advisor known for his savvy, yet straight forward approach to business in serving some of the nation’s top CEOs.
Mr. Myatt has been recognized as one of the world’s top 25 leadership experts, and is acclaimed for his contributions to the field of leadership. He is also a syndicated columnist and contributing editor on topics of leadership and innovation, his theories and practices having been taught at many of the nation’s top business schools.
All of this makes me pleased that he is one of the nominees for the Best Leadership Blog of 2010.
What If Leadership Was More Than A Buzzword?
by Mike Myatt (posted 7/29/10)
What if “Leadership” was more than a buzzword? What If…What if leadership was more than just another contentious term bantered around in meaningless conversations? What if leadership was truly understood, modeled, and actually experienced as the rule and not the exception? In the text that follows I’ll answer these questions and hopefully encourage you to reevaluate how you view the practice of leadership…
Have you ever felt as if the term “leadership” has a bulls-eye painted on it? Well, it’s because it does – the very mention of the word leadership seems to draw fire from increasingly large numbers these days. The term has been inappropriately hi-jacked by the politically correct who mock it, the avant-garde who belittle it, the naive who discount it, and the public at large seems to be growing tired of hearing about it. I’m befuddled by this dismissive attitude, and am left wondering how we could have arrived at such a place – how could something so valuable be trivialized by so many?
Why does all this matter? Because leadership matters…Whether through malice or naivete, those who trivialize the value of leadership place us all at risk…Poor leadership cripples businesses, ruins economies, destroys families, loses wars, and can bring the demise of nations. The demand for true leaders has never been greater – when society misunderstands the importance of leadership, and when the world inappropriately labels non-leaders as leaders we are all worse for the wear.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the reason so many attempt to ridicule leadership is twofold: 1.) The masses of feigned leaders in the public eye make it easy to do so, and; 2.) Real leaders tend to practice their craft quietly, and with great humility, often going unnoticed in the public eye.
Mike goes on to define leaders from his perspective. Not surprisingly, I agree with him. Leadership isn’t a role and doesn’t require a public view or platform.
You are a leader if you choose to lead. Leaders are needed in the world now, as much as ever. Do yourself and the world around you a favor. Forget the media-driven view and definition.
Defy the buzzword and the cynics.
Choose to make a difference.
Choose to to lead.
If you haven’t yet voted for this year’s Best Leadership Blog, here is your chance. You can vote for Mike or any of our other nominees here.
0 comments