[February 24, 2016] You can tell a lot about a leader by the people they surround themselves with. The best leaders I’ve ever had the honor to know always had great people working for them. People around a leader tell us a lot about that leader’s priorities, leader traits, attitude, and chances if achieving success.
“Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher.” – Oprah Winfrey
Great leaders always take the time to ensure their staffs are fully aligned with that leader philosophically and on practical terms. Those leaders I’ve profiled here on www.theLeaderMaker.com all had the best of the best people working alongside them. Oprah Winfrey tells us that it takes a conscious effort to do this but the rewards are worth it.
Leadership doesn’t mean doing everything yourself and of course that is impossible anyway. Great leaders bring on those who compliment them and are careful to foster a compatible, professionally intimate relationship. A specific effort is taken to hone people skills and arrangements are made to take care of those who work with the leader is made so that loyalty is developed.
They do this with a staff that is coordinated by a senior leader whose job is to keep everyone on the same sheet of music. Sometimes called a chief of staff, executive officer, or vice president of operations, it takes a special “Number 2” to keep everyone in step.
The staff (or team) reflects the leader’s personality. For example a leader who cares little for their people will have a staff that acts as a strong gatekeeper with the task to insulate the leader from the “little people”. Leaders who act without close regard for the law will have untrustworthy staffs that are there to protect the leader and act only in their own self interests.
My grandmother always told me to surround myself with friends who are good and honest people and they’ll help push me further to realize my own potential. She was right. Just like in great leadership, surround yourself with good and honest people and you’ll do well. That’s always been my philosophy and it worked.
[“Like” the Leader Maker at our Facebook Page.]