Where Does the Leader Sit at the Table?
Okay, this is kind of a trick question. Where DOES the leader sit at the table? In the boardroom? On the bus? The answer might surprise you – especially if YOU are sitting in the ‘leader seat.’
In the boardroom, corporate tradition has historically seated the leader at the ‘head’ or end of the table. The CEO or meeting leader would typically take a seat at the front of the room with his or her ‘right hand’ people adjacent and others around the table. In some companies, the closer one sits to the leader, the more status conferred.
Of course, all of this is complete nonsense and doesn’t confer any actual power or authority upon anyone. In fact, some progressive leaders have chosen to signal change and team spirit by sitting in a side-of-the-table position at the boardroom table. In reality, the person with the leader title is still the understood leader no matter where he or she sits.
But here’s the ‘rub,’ as Shakespeare said. Who is the REAL leader and does seating position have anything to do with leadership? In fact, does a title or position actually have anything to do with leading? I’ll spare you guessing. The answer is ‘No’ and ‘Not much,’ in that order.
Let’s unpack this leadership concept a bit. Leadership, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the office or position of a leader, the capacity to lead and/or the act of leading. Likely we can all agree on the definition. But in real life, the true metal of a leader is behavior.
In short, this is a leader.
1. Strategic thinker: has a vision for the work to be done
2. Communicator: can communicate the vision in audience-specific language
3. Connector: can engage the team in the vision
4. Tactical: can mobilize the team with a clear action plan
5. Trustworthy: actions match words
And here’s the bonus round. When this person has some emotional intelligence and can not only engage people but do so on a unique, individual basis (which generally includes legitimately caring about the people involved) – that’s electric.
So what really defines a leader? Is it where that person ‘sits’ in the organization or even that person’s title? Nope. Because, while a title demands a function and organizational compliance, it alone does not engage people nor ensure action toward the effective outcome.
Look around the table. The leader is not necessarily the person at the head of the table or the person with the ‘leader title.’ The leader is the person who can imagine a creative solution, can share the idea so people understand it and is trusted to help the group move the solution forward. Even if you have the title, if you’re not doing those things then you aren’t leading. And, if you ARE doing those things, with or without a title, the leader might be YOU.
