Are You a Contagious Leader?, by John Hersey & Beverly Belury

What if leadership were contagious, passed from one committed leader to another? What if it were normal for an executive, following a staff meeting, to feel enthused and totally confident that her/his team would go out and boldly achieve the desired mission, on their own, without the least bit of handholding? What if we could Create Contagious Leadership?

We can!

To Create Contagious Leadership each of us has to be a Contagious Leader. We would have to take on the behavior, attitudes and habits common to Contagious Leaders. We have made it a point to observe the behavior common to leaders, Contagious Leaders in particular. What follows is not based on a statistically significant random sample taken in a controlled test. It is taken from our years of observing executives and we offer them so that you can reflect upon them, decide for yourself if they sound and feel right to you and then decide to what extent you will commit yourself and the other executives/managers you work with to build these attitudes, behavior and habits in your organization.

We define a Contagious Leader as a person who has a high regard for character, nurtures other contagious leaders and believes in the notion that "the rising tide benefits all the boats in the harbor."

In our view there are "Contained Leaders" and "Contagious Leaders." Sadly, most of us fall into the first category. "Contained Leaders" play small, always inside themselves, and usually focusing more on protecting who they are and what they have rather than building an organization of winners. "Contagious Leaders" play full out in everything they do and firmly believe that developing other contagious leaders is the only route to long-term success. We have noticed that Contagious Leaders have developed certain habits that distinguish them from all others:

Spotlighting-- Contagious Leaders sincerely promote the accomplishments of others. They willingly Share the Spotlight.

Empowering others-- Contagious Leaders allow others to find their own style, develop their own goals and implement their own plans. Contained Leaders micro-manage.

Focusing on strengths-- A contagious leader showcases and promotes an individual`s strengths. Contained Leaders make sure they point out as many weaknesses as possible as often as possible.

Involvement -- Contained Leaders avoid any real, deep involvement. The percentage of managers that do not know if the people reporting to them are married or single, or what their spouses or significant others names are, is staggering. Contagious Leaders know all this and more, not just because it is good for business but because they truly care about people, people that are also, by the way, the organizations most important asset.

Communication-- Contagious Leaders know there is nothing more important than communications. Open, honest communication will do more to improve morale and performance in most organizations than virtually any other strategy. On the other hand, the motto for Contained Leaders appears to be "Keep um guessing."

Long-term vision-- To the Contained Leader commitments are short-lived at best. They always have a current resume on file because they are constantly on the lookout for the next best opportunity.

Permission Mentoring -- Contagious Leaders help others find the right direction; they nourish and nurture them, coach them, and extend a helping hand whenever and in whatever way possible.

Passion -- Contagious Leaders are passionate about what they do and they stand for that passion. There is nothing moderate about them.

So, how are you doing? For each of the 8 habits rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being perfect. For example, a 10 rating for "spotlighting" means you always focus your attention on the accomplishments of others. Be honest now! How are you doing?

There is incessant talk about the need for more leaders. Not just in business, either. Our communities, our families, our churches, our schools all need more leaders. Creating Contagious Leadership starts with one person making a decision about being a Contagious Leader. That decision and the behavior, attitudes and habits that result can have a profound effect. How are you doing?