The Math of Leadership

If you are a number, let's say 8, and you stand alone, the value is 8.   Simple.

If, however, you start to apply equations to 8 - it gets interesting.

As an 8, you can interact with others.   But, if you choose to cut some people of the team out. . .let's say there are a couple of people you don't respect or you don't like them or perhaps you think that you're better than them.   Well, then you are subtracting 2.     Your value is now 6.   Through subtraction you have lessened your value.

Or, let's say that as a leader you choose to be divisive.    You're saying one thing to one group of people and another thing to another group.   You pit your team against others in an unsanctioned game of office politics. Through sheer competition you have eliminated an entirely different work group and let's say that you are so unpleasant that others just don't want to work with you.   You have now divided your worth by 4.    Your value then is 2.

But, let's say instead you take two people into your circle.   You coach them, you mentor them.   They understand the company goals and they like working with you.    You are using addition - and you have just added 2 to your value - so your value is now 10.

Or, wait - what about multiplication!    You reach out to work collaboratively with one work group.   Your team has built a bridge to another team in seeking help.   You consistently work in an interdisciplinary fashion with other support groups.   Another group  is working with your group on a new idea.    You have a multiple of 4 - your value is now 32!

I once worked with an entrepreneur who was fond of this phrase:  "You can't grow through subtraction."   Simple addition incrementally increases your leadership;   multiplication grows it exponentially.


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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle