One critical part of leadership is what I like to call the “backside of leadership.”
It’s the part that is unseen. Or unknown at the time. It’s the unspoken, unclear, has-to-be-tested side of leadership.
So critical.
Years ago I had a leader I could never predict. One day everything was wonderful and the next day nothing was right. It was frustrating. I could never read this leader and whether or not he was happy.
Some have probably accused me of this at times. Probably all of us.
Leading well means sometimes what a leader does when the team’s back is turned is more important than what they do in the team’s presence. When they don’t know what the leader is thinking or how he or she will respond—they can still trust the leader.
The backside of good leadership means a leader does what is best for the team and the organization—not for his or her personal gain—regardless of who gets credit.
Even if no one saw it coming.
That’s the backside of leadership.
Still trying to understand what I mean?
Here are seven characteristics of the backside of good leadership:
1. Protects you
When critics rise against you or your work, a great leader stands behind you. Better yet, they stand in front of you to take the first bullet. They are predictable and consistent with their support.
2. Won’t back you in a corner
Good leaders don’t hold you accountable for unreasonable expectations, especially when you didn’t know what the expectations were. They make sure you have the resources you need. They never put you on the spot. They make sure the team operates with a plan.
3. Forgives easily
You gain good favor quickly after you make a mistake under a good leader. They extend grace knowing the greatest lessons in life are learned through failure. And the investment made in people when they fall often yields the greatest return.
4. Empowers you
The leader doesn’t have to know everything you do and every decision you make—before you make it. They are OK with the unknown. They invest trust in you. They empower you to make decisions without their direct oversight.
5. Invests in others
The team receives more from the leader than the leader takes. No one feels used or like they’re building an empire for the leader. Rewards are shared and celebrated together.
6. Never stabs you in the back
People don’t feel threatened in their position. They know the leader can hold a confidence and will never say one thing to one person and something else to another.
7. Responsiveness
Everyone has been in a situation waiting for a leader to make a decision. It can be a frustrating experience. Impatience can rise. Good leaders are responsive. They don’t make people come to their own conclusions. They communicate in a timely manner.
The backside of leadership. Have you thought about how you lead on the backside—when no one knows what to expect.
