Articles

A leader's name

 

My son's football team has a special call they use when they know they need a special effort, a lift in energy and commitment.

It's a single word that they all know. It's apparently been handed down from previous First XVs. They all know its meaning. That single word communicates attention, effort, commitment, sacrifice. It inspires the team to believe that they can overcome the challenges they're facing. It spurs them to positive action when the play is going against them.

One word. A word that wouldn't motivate others one iota. It wouldn't mean anything particularly. Just as it doesn't mean anything to the opposing teams.

The fascinating thing is that this powerful word is someone's name.

Actually it's a nickname. The nickname of one of the school's teachers. A teacher whose leadership in the school has become highly respected for his consistent example of energy, commitment and service. 

When this teacher's nickname is called out the team galvinises. They refocus. They recommit to the task. They regroup to face the challenge. Individually and collectively they dig deeper to find something extra to contribute. 

All in response to someone's name. 

We often talk about the power of a leader's example. About the influence leaders can exercise. About the importance of trust and respect. And often, when workshop groups talk about leadership the conversation naturally goes to the names of people who have demonstrated leadership qualities. Whether those names are public figures from business, government or community movements, or from our personal experience (an aunt, a teacher, a coach, "Joe"), the names communicate "leadership".

It's interesting how history and business often uses leaders' names as a shorthand for leadership style, motivation or achievement: Richard Branson of Virgin, Bill Gates of Microsoft, Steve Jobs of Apple, Jack Welch, Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Margaret Thatcher, Abraham Lincoln ...  

But it's not just the public figures whose names convey leadership. In the course of two programs recently I heard someone's name highlighted twice. In two different groups of people from the same company one person's name was raised as exemplifying "leadership". They weren't necessarily high profile, but they were highly influential. Their name and reputation - built on years of contribution - had established their credentials.

In fact, say anyone's name and you'll evoke a reaction from those who know them. Positive or negative, names communicate reputation and influence. Some names people will cheer for, step up for. Some names people will even die for. And there are other names that .. well, we have other reactions to!

Whether or not a person's name is connected to a formal leadership role, the fact is it's their name that communicates their real influence, not their title. Sure, positional authority can ensure compliance. But creativity and contribution are voluntary responses - responses that cannot be commanded or controlled. Responses that rely very much on a leader's name. 

Our name is built on our reputation - for better or worse. And our reputations are built on a record of reliable behaviour. The words and actions that we use to create the results and performance we want create the experiences that others have in dealing with us. And it's those experiences that create our name.   

When my son's team is doing well they don't need to invoke their special call. But when they face a challenge, when they need something extra, that's when the leader's name inspires them to go the extra mile. 

There's great power in a leader's name. Whether our leadership is formal or informal, organisational or cultural, personal or professional, our reputation is built every day through actions big and small that together create a name. A name that can be relied upon. A name that can be called upon. A name that, in a word, can bring out the best in others.
 

Aubrey Warren
Situational Leadership® Australia

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