In today’s world it’s not about competing but all about collaborating. When a leader interacts with other leaders, leader looks at ways of creating a winning solution for organisation rather than for themselves. It’s all about “Us” as an organisation and not me. Look at the most successful leaders around you and they are appreciated by their peers because they know this leader brings value to their common objective.
There is another segment, not leaders actually but bleeders who are always trying to prove a point to their team members that they are leaders. These are not leaders and will never be. Reason being leadership is not about telling how you are better than others but has two-fold objective when it comes to teams. First understanding the potential of the team member and then realising the potential to achieve the organisational objective. Look at any of the leaders who you respect the most, it’s this ability of making members realise their potential that makes one respect them. Remember a captain is not always the best player in the team.
Does it mean that leaders don’t compete? No, they do. Leaders are competent first which allows them to be competitive and they show their competitiveness to deliver organisation goals, sounds a little confusing. Let me explain, leaders are competent i.e., they have the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully. They are competitive to achieve organisational goals but use their competence to inspire others to work towards it. It is the competence that makes them competitive and they show their competitiveness mostly to the external world. For example, a sales head will show his aggression and competitiveness in the field and not to his team or peers, he will rather use his competence with them to inspire them to deliver.
So, its competence and competitiveness together that is important. Also, do note that leaders compete fiercely with themselves every day to be more competent and this is what makes them a better leader who keeps inspiring. Lack of competence in a leader creates a hollow organisation that struggles internally and lacks competitiveness in the market.
