From Ian Sampson

The Misleading Conduct series started out as a few “notes to self” on leadership, based on my own experiences, as well as many years of observing and working with and for leaders in all kinds of organisations. As I shared some of these thoughts with friends, a kind of virtual conversation has begun which is bringing to light some marvelous insights, many of which have been incorporated in our posts.

The wonderful people in the conversation so far represent large and small organisations. They hold senior and junior leadership positions in for-profits and not-for-profits. They lead whole businesses, functions and teams. Virtually all of them  lead and are led, so they are able to bring both perspectives to their insights and guidance. I am grateful to them for permitting me to weave their wisdom into this work. Some of the contributions are attributed to particular members of our team; others have preferred to remain anonymous.

I hope these articles has been like a warm bath: a pleasure to enjoy and a bit uncomfortable when you experienced the bits of grit on the bottom!

If all the foregoing points to the horrors of Misleading, what can be done? To me the essence of leadership is summed up in a conference presentation I heard recently:

Leadership is about creating ways for people to collaborate in making a difference.

Sometimes leaders have to stand at the front of the crowd and lead from there. More often though, leaders create the conditions for others to do their best. I hope that readers will see what factors they need to change in the areas of their leadership so that they can give the kind of leadership that followers crave.

We have cause to be optimistic about our collective and individual capacities for effective leadership. And don’t forget…. an optimist is someone who believes it will all turn out OK in the end. If it is not OK, then it is not the end!

About Ian:  Ian Sampson (B.Comm., LLB., FAICD, FAIM)  is a Cause & Effective Associate. He is a Strategic Advisor to Boards, an Executive Coach and a Facilitator of our Powerful Leadership in Action Program and has known a few Misleaders in his time. He can be contacted here.