Always On Stage: The Unseen Influence of Leadership
Sing along with me: “I always feel like somebody’s watching me and I have no privacy (oh-oh-oh)
Oh- oh- oh… OUCH, more like it—thank goodness you can't hear my wailing. I know my strengths, and singing is certainly not one of them. These words are from the chorus of Rockwell’s 2009 song titled ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’. It's not a track I listen to often, but I recently heard it on the radio, and the chorus got me thinking. Not about privacy, though I admit to being super grateful for the privacy I do enjoy, but about a lesson I learned from a wonderful mentor early in my leadership career.
John’s words still echo today: “Gary,” he said in his energetic and warm voice, his eyes glinting with excitement (he was the MD of the company), “Congratulations on your promotion. A deserved step up but remember one thing as you navigate this change, especially now that you are in a more senior leadership role—you will ALWAYS be on stage being watched.”
At the time, I was too excited about the promotion to fully absorb the sage advice being given. I was only thinking about sharing my exciting news with my wife, family, and friends. It was only when my promotion was announced to all stakeholders—internally and externally—and walking into the office immediately after that it dawned on me. People were looking at me differently. I had the title, but now I was being watched. Thereafter, no matter the setting—be it professional or private—I felt ‘eyes on’. I was in my mid-thirties in a very senior role, and I felt the weight of responsibility and expectation to deliver and prove myself worthy of the appointment.
Initially, I did not take kindly to this feeling. I saw it as an unwanted cost of my promotion, a nuisance, and a frustrating one at that—the nagging feeling of constantly ‘being on stage’. But thank goodness for leadership mentors! I sought the advice of great leadership material, and their words spoke into my life, helping me grasp a new paradigm.
Words like the following:
John Maxwell: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
Stephen Covey: “One of the most important actions a leader can take is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate, committed, dedicated, and motivated, you go first!”
Dale Carnegie: “It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”
Kouzes and Posner: “Exemplary leaders know that if they want to gain commitment and achieve the highest standards, they must be models of the behaviour they expect of others.”
My eyes were opened to the incredible privilege and awesome responsibility a leader has - how much influence I have as a leader by what I do, how I show up, and what I demonstrate. I paraphrase Darren Hardy who said something like this in 'The Hero's Journey':
“We are a monkey see; monkey do species. Ninety-eight percent of all learning is through observation, by mimicking. It is why we know how to behave, speak, and survive in the tribe long before we know how to read."
If you are a leader, it is vital to stay true to this principle. As Arleen Lorrance said,
“Be the change you want to see happen.”
As a leader, you too are being watched—always. So, how do you want to be seen?
Stay inspired and lead with excellence.
Gary Good
Founder - LeaderLegacy
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