Dear Friends:

As you prepare to create extraordinary leadership objectives for 2006, and as you begin to look for courses, tools, books, and solutions to enhance your leadership effectiveness, I would like for you to consider that:

“THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS LEADERSHIP EDUCATION.”

I presented this provocation to a class of Business Students at USD.  As students invested in receiving high marks from their professor, David Wyman, they were committed to prove that there is such a “thing” as Leadership Education. 

I shared with the class that according to Kevin Cashman, leadership is:  “Authentic, Self-Expression that Creates Value.”  If leadership is self-expression, there is nothing to learn, there is only the practice of BEING leader, which is to create value for others by authentically expressing yourself.

Let’s look at what Brittany Tall, a Business Student at USD, got out of the class:

One of my favorite presentations over the course of the semester was from Mitch Simon who spoke about authentic leadership. He explained leadership as having both internal and external qualities that one must master. He also explained how authenticity, and the creation of value is pertinent to becoming a leader.

A great leader is honest with themselves. They are “known” and clear about why they’re here and they know for what reasons. It is very important for leaders to represent themselves authentically and allow their true selves to show. People do not want to be led by a person that makes them selves appear “perfect”. Life is not about being perfect or fake. After a while, it is inevitable that others will see who I really am, so it is crucial to show them as soon as possible so they can feel comfortable and form a relationship with the real me, not a misrepresented version of me!

A true leader is one that allows their humanness to show so their peers can relate and examine their own genuine self . As a leader, I learned from Simon’s presentation that I must have a continual commitment to learn as much as I can about others and myself. I learned that I must not fear making mistakes or fear being weak but just acknowledging who I really am. I must do this because I want to live a life of honesty, and one that brings value into the world and others lives.

As 2006 approaches, many of you are both excited and anxious about new commitments, new challenges, new actions, and new results.  My experience has shown, and Brittany has summed it up, “a great leader is honest with themselves.”  In order to achieve the extraordinary, your greatest use of energy is to get clear about why you are here and how you can best authentically express those reasons to enroll others to follow you.  The experience of your authenticity as a leader is the most powerful place to look as you design your business plan, your strategy, your team, your actions, and most importantly, your conversations to grow your business in 2006.

I am certain that Tiffany will be an extraordinary leader upon graduation from USD.  She is barely 20, and she “gets it.”  Through her words you can see that she is fully self-expressed.  Her self-expression will have others be inspired by her, be enrolled in what she is up to, and build the commitment to follow her.

In 2006, I challenge us all to look at every moment as an opportunity to develop our capacity to self-express, to be invested in living and speaking authentically, and to be the extraordinary leader that the world is calling us to BE.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year,

Mitchell Simon, JD/MBA

Certified Integral Coach

President and CEO

The Simon Leadership Alliance, Inc.