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What’s the purpose of leadership? Why go through all the trouble when you can just coast in the background? Who is it for?
I was listening to a short speech by the CEO of Marriot, Arne Sorenson, where he was giving the company an update on how COVID-19 was negatively impacting the travel sector. This speech was an awesome example of how to communicate and lead during a crisis.
Sorenson was honest, empathic, vulnerable, but despite the dire situation in the travel industry, he remained hopeful. He conveyed that the employees have the resolve to come out on top.
There were some great nuggets on leadership, communication, teamwork, and vision we can take from his speech. We can stop there and that would be enough for the day.
But there’s more.
In May of 2019, Sorenson revealed he had stage 2 pancreatic cancer. Since then, he’s been undergoing cancer treatment, including chemotherapy.
He continued working but at some point stopped due to the treatment. Recently, he returned to his role as CEO to lead the company during this covid-19 mess.
When he first announced his cancer diagnosis last May he told his associates:
“In the meantime, I intend to continue working at the company I love. Let me make one request, look ahead with me. We have great work underway at Marriott. I am as excited by what we can accomplish together as I have ever been.”
I’m sure Sorenson is a wealthy guy so he probably doesn’t need the money. So, dude, why are you coming back at the worst time possible?
You can’t win. Are you a masochist?
Well, he did say he loves Marriot.
But there’s more.
He’s not back at work for himself. I suspect he loves his people; his team. And, by the way, it’s okay for leaders to love their people.
Sorenson’s communication is all about the team and overcoming challenges together. It seems to me that he’s there to SERVE his team and not the other way around.
Some people in leadership positions get this so wrong it’s insane! They believe that once they “make it to the top” that others are there for them. They think the team/employees/organization serves them.
I hate this mindset.
Leadership is not about YOU. It’s all about the people you are responsible for serving.
The purpose of leading will always be more about them than it is about you. The problem is when people confuse LEADING with RULING (like in royalty and monarchs).
If you have royal blood you can get away with that.
But leaders are here to solve one problem after another. As a leader, you have to be okay with that. Taking responsibility for problems is one of the leader’s major responsibilities.
Former Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State Colin Powel said,
“The day the soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.”
Leadership is not as glamorous or as sexy as it seems in movies. Great leaders take responsibility for the people they lead and not the other way around (unless you’re royalty).
Leadership = more responsibility.
Despite his own medical challenges, Sorenson is assuming responsibility not just for the company, but for thousands of employees, at a time when he would be excused if he decided to walk away.
But when you really care about (or even love) your people, you don’t just walk away. You assume the responsibility.
Why?
Because you’re a leader. And because you know it’s not about you. This isn’t something you do for a higher salary, stock options, or to be famous. And you don’t have to be to the CEO of a major company to do this.
One of the opportunities from covid-19 is that we now have a bigger window to see what great leadership looks like.
So, in your daily life are you leading or ruling?