Once a year, my students come to class ready and get an assignment that’s a little odd.  They get the next 4 hours to find a leader to interview about the job of being a leader, and they have to come up with something that will be helpful to the leader.  It’s always a pretty powerful experience, because they do this cold, and they do it quick. It’s amazing how quickly this leaders share there challenges and excitements in a matter of moments.  Here are some of the stories.

The reason I named my book Dying to Lead was a very simple one.  We want leaders who are dying to lead (who want the job) and also willing to die to the possibility of leading (willing to let it go).  We certainly don’t want leaders who want the job too badly.  Those are dangerous types becaus they are defined by what they do, what they achieve, often driven by a blind sense of confidence in their own ability, and often out of touch with all that’s at stake for themselves and for their followers.  But, on some level, they have want the job.  We are asking for tough things from leaders.  You need to want the job, and in the same moment, be willing to let it go if it’s time for someone else to lead.  What a tough job leaders have. 

Where do you fall on that sprectrum?  Do you have a healthy respect for the stakes involved in leading?  Do you have too much confidence in your own ability, or just the right amount of reluctance and motivation to take on the job of leading?  You have to want it, and be wiling to let it go.