Debunking Leadership Myths

By: Bernadette Smith

Do you see yourself as a leader? I believe we all struggle with the perspective of what constitutes a leader and who qualifies to deserve such a label. There is perhaps a mythical stereotype of a leader, based on conventional thinking, societal norms and the media, among other sources. According to “The Leadership Challenge” by Posner and Kouzes, there are a number of myths surrounding leadership that we have the power and ability to debunk. The following are the myths and my guidance on how to navigate each of them.

MYTH #1 – Leadership is reserved for a very few.

Leadership is not the private reserve of a few charismatic individuals. It’s not a title, it’s not a gene, and it’s not a secret code that can’t be deciphered by ordinary people. Whether it’s one-to-one or one-to-many, leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow.

MYTH #2 – Leadership is something found only at the highest levels of a society or an organization.

Leadership is not about position or title. It’s about relationships, credibility and what you do. Unfortunately, the danger of this myth is that those lacking a certain title feel inhibited from seizing the initiative to lead and make a difference under the mistaken belief that “it’s not my job – I’m not a leader.” The first place to look for leadership is within yourself.

MYTH #3 – Leaders are “born,” it can’t be learned.

Leadership is a learnable set of practices, accessible to anyone. Everyone has the capacity to lead.

Jim Whittaker, the first American to climb Mt. Everest, once observed, “You never conquer the mountain. You conquer yourself – your doubts and your fears.” The same holds true about leadership.

MYTH #4 – leadership is about power and importance.

In organizations today, the command and control techniques of the Industrial Revolution are counter-productive. Leaders make people feel strong, capable, and committed. They make it possible for others to do good work and enable others to act – not by hoarding power – but by giving it away.

While it is fun to be a leader, gratifying to have influence and exhilarating to have scores of people cheering your every word, leaders must guard against the treachery of hubris. It is all too easy to be seduced by power and importance, thereby reducing your effectiveness as a leader.

MYTH #5 – To be a leader you must be 100% focused on work.

Do not allow work to consume you. Do not become one-dimensional. It leads to becoming self-absorbed, out-of-touch, overbearing and presumptuous. The very best leaders have numerous pursuits and interests. Get involved in the world that surrounds you. Get out of your comfort zone; explore communities and cultures that are different from yours. You’ll improve your own diversity ratio.

MYTH #6 – Leaders are perfect.

Leaders aren’t saints. They are human beings full of flaws. As an aspiring leader, don’t put that pressure on yourself. Don’t strive to be perfect. Instead, remain open to new ideas. The best leaders are the best learners.

Leadership is about transforming values into action. It is the process ordinary people use when bringing forth the best from themselves and others. I believe that key leadership behaviors imperative for the future include intellectual stimulation, inspiration, participative decision-making and having a clearly defined set of expectations and rewards.

To be a leader, you must know what you care about. You can only be authentic when leading others according to the principles that matter most to you. Finding your own voice and passion is the first step toward becoming a leader. To quote JFK, “One person can make a difference. Everyone should try.”

Will you?

Bernadette Smith, CFP, is Senior Portfolio Manager at Fifth Third Private Bank. She serves on multiple boards, including the Women & Girls Foundation.  Recently, she was appointed by Gov. Rendell as a member of the Inter-branch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness,  received the YWCA “A Tribute to Women Leadership Award and the Athena Award.