Many people I speak to, from little kids to professionals in their 50s, want to be “in charge.” They want what they perceive to be the perks of being in a position of authority.
What most don’t recognize is the BURDEN that comes with leadership.
When there’s an uncertain environment, it is the leader that absorbs the bulk of that uncertainty — creating a simplified, more structured environment for her team to operate within.
When a major decision needs to be made, and there is no obvious decision, it is the leader that bears the consequence of choosing incorrectly.
When a difficult decision needs to be made, choosing between a bad choice and a worse choice, it’s the leader that has to live with deliberately making a bad choice — solely to avoid an even worse choice.
For my clients, when things are going well, they can’t tell their employees — lest they all immediately ask for raises.
When things go poorly, they can’t tell their employees either — lest they all start looking for work elsewhere.
Sometimes, a leader must make a wildly unpopular decision. Even though the decision is sound, that’s not how everyone else sees it. To stand alone in the face of hurricane-level criticism and even ridicule is not easy to do.
When a leader makes mistakes, the results are often very public — for all to see firsthand.
This is the burden of leadership.
If despite all this, you still want to be in a leadership position, the solution is simple.
Assume the BURDEN before you are actually formally placed in a position.
When things go wrong in your company, you personally accept the burden and responsibility for correcting the situation — even if you were not the one who made the mistake.
When you’re the leader, the final responsibility lies with YOU.
This is both a blessing and a curse.
To understand leadership is to realize that you can’t have one without the other.
That is the burden of leadership.
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23 thoughts on “The Burden of Leadership”
Hi Victor,
great article.
With the sentence: “When there’s an uncertain environment, it is the leader that absorbs the bulk of that uncertainty…”, you have just caught the essence of leadership for me.
I remember about my first years in Management Consulting and that I was often wondering: “How come my more senior colleagues can be so certain that these are the steps we need to take?”
Now, after 4 years, I know they were not certain either – they were just good enough leaders not to burden a green analyst such as I was with all the uncertainties – and gave me pre-structured vision of reality, so that I could work on my tasks.
And now it’s up to me to do some of the reality structuring 🙂
There are a number of descriptors that I would associate with leadership, but “burden” would not be at the top of the list. Leadership is a series of overlapping decisions and consequences that emit from intuitive, visionary, intellectual and communication skills.
I think leaders are born but they are also developed by being placed in positions of greater and more challenging responsibilty and trust. They fail, learn and adjust course at inopportune and difficult moments. The best leaders have expectations of their people and provide them with the guidance and tools to be effective. And the very best reward and acknowledge the contributions of others.
For examples of the failing, attenuated leadership see the President and US Congress.
Well articulated, Victor. Thanks for the article.
One important way to reduce the burden of leadership is for the leader to be OPEN to his leads. OPENNESS helps the leader to always elicit supports even when things get sour.
If one calls it “the burden” then he/she should stop from pursuing a leadership role. Because that’s exactly what makes a difference: to stand out and enjoy being alone in a crowd.
The true leader does not strive to be the leader to gain perks and powers and therefore, bear unpleasant ‘burdens’ like the necessity to get rid of people.
The true leader does not strive to be in the light of glory and does not strive for trophies.
The true leader simply sees far things as if they were close and simply goes there, and other people choose to follow because they trust. Whatever comes on the way, does not have label as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, it is just a necessity – to get THERE.
The true leader is brave and it costs him, but he is not concerned with the cost. Because he knows the value of getting THERE.
The true leader bears loads of personal costs too. In fact the true leader is sensitive and fragile like no one else, but just because of this – he can feel and see far things, so his personal integrity does not allow to deviate from the path her has chosen.
With great power comes great responsibility, we know. So, responsibility is something not to be afraid of, or to ‘bear’ , but something that comes naturally into a leader’s role.
And, I think the true leader shall seek first responsibility and never – perks and glory. True leader looks for responsibility not just for the sake of it, but in order to get THERE.
I think this is a thoughtful insight, Victor. I would add one point to accepting responsibility for a situation and the effort to correct it. There is the alternate outcome of not moving to a leadership position because you are recognized as too valuable of a problem-solver at the position and level you currently hold. This is a situation I am currently dealing with.
James,
If you are too good at solving every hard problem thrown your way, and your current employer doesn’t give you an opportunity to take on more challenges within the organization, the solution is simple.
Leave.
Great leadership is VERY short supply. Given the choice between giving your more responsibility vs losing you, either they will give you more or you will get more elsewhere.
Either way, leaders end up finding a way to lead one way or another.
-Victor
I agree in most part that many people only see the glamour associated with leadership, however, I would be a bit hesitant to use the word ‘Burden’ to associate. ‘Burden’ for me contains negative connotations, in the sense that it is unwanted and it is bad.
Leadership for me is a combination of someone’s actions and their state of mind. While it is true that leaders have to take on more responsibilities, that is a choice they make. I think good leaders choose to take on that responsibility and not view it as a burden. Instead they make a series of well analysed choices and are aware that all actions have consequences and they are willing to take responsibility for their decisions.
In summary, I’d say great leaders take on responsibilities, while everyone else take on burdens.
Sally,
In principle I agree with you. At 3am in the morning, it feels like a burden.
-Victor
Burden = Pursuit of Passion 😉