The Cost of Leadership

As human beings, we tend to like talking about the things we feel we have earned more than costs.  For example, it is much more fun to talk about how much money we make or the accolades we have accumulated than how much the cost of living is. In one instance we are focused on what we get.  With the other, it is what we have to give up.

One of the realities of leadership is that there is a cost associated with it. While it is true that it is a title often bestowed on us as a result of a job well done, there are sacrifices we have to choose to make in service of the position. Being a leader doesn’t mean we get to solely focus on and operate within our areas of strength or desire. There are aspects of leadership we accept as costs we don’t get to delegate to others. There are things that we alone must engage in.

Things like difficult conversations. Tough choices. Navigating change. Certainly important, but rarely fun.

Leadership comes with a cost. So, what is the price? 

• It costs our addiction to pleasing people.

• It means giving up the “right” we sometimes feel to dislike others.

• It means giving up the feeling of hurt when we are misunderstood.

• It means giving up on our own personal agendas.

• It means being okay with having to lead through challenges with deficiencies of knowledge or skill sets.

• It means that when we are hurt, sometimes we still have to get back out there and keep playing.
  

In service to others, we as leaders are called upon to pay a price. It is a weird dichotomy. One that we must consider before stepping into important roles of influence. Chances are that if you are committing to the 90-day 3-2-1 REFLECTION activity we discussed last week, the two things you listed as areas of concern stem from costs like these.

Next week, we can talk a bit more about the addiction we have to pleasing others and how we as leaders can better navigate that challenging mindset.

The decision to pay the price of leadership is often an unintended obstacle of acceptance. Let’s think about that more.

Looking forward…