Ask Who Is In Charge

We are told by Dr. Grint that leaders, “...have
to negotiate their way through organizational control."
We only have as much influence on others, including
our employees, as they permit us to have.

Topic for Discussion: What does Dr. Grint mean when he says leadership is more about process than position?

Answer: The fact that you own your business, that you are the boss, does not make you a leader. You are only a leader if people are inspired to follow you. Successful small business owners know that they cannot succeed without valuable employees; the intellectual capital of the organization is among its most precious assets.

You can have authority over your employees without being a leader but you will not have true power in your organization. Power can’t be seized, it can only be granted. That’s why Dr. Grint says power is a consequence, not a cause, of our employees’ actions.

You think about it: Do your employees look upon you as a leader? How do you know?