The Myth of Lucky Leaders

It doesn't matter what endeavor you want to consider, you will find people ascribing the success of others to luck.  I'm sure you have noticed this too.  It goes something like this. . .

People get to talking about someone who has achieved at high levels (typically in a field they care about, or in a job that is highly valued) and eventually the conversation will turn to the lucky breaks they received, the people they already knew, where/when they were born or the good fortune in their personal genetic makeup.

All of these conversations occur because it is easier for people to ascribe the success of others to luck than to assume they themselves simply didn't work hard enough or do the things necesary to achieve similar success themselves.

This phenomenon doesn't just occur  when people speal of actors or athletes - similar arguments are used to explain the rise of certain individuals to leadership roles, including "they got promoted to supervisor over me because they were lucky."

While small advantages or opportunities do arise for many on their road to success, wise achievers (including leaders) understand the real definition of luck:

Labor
Under
Correct 
Knowledge

Astute leaders recognize this and use this definition of luck every day.  They continually take action, using the best techniques and approaches they can, knowing that when they take action they are ahead of those who don't, and knowing that when those actions are wise, based on the best information, strategies and approaches, they bring themselves the best chance for success, and yes, perhaps as others see it; luck.

The best leaders use this approach not only for themselves, but as a ongoing lesson in action for others. They teach others the value of being proactive.  They develop others to know and use the best approaches and techniques.  By this definition they manufacture luck for those they lead.

This is a lesson for all leaders - whether you are in executive leadership, or striving for your initial supervisory position.  Beyond leadership it applies to all parts of our lives.

The closest thing you will find to your own personal four-leaf clover or rabbit's foot is to:

Labor
Under
Correct
Knowledge

If you are looking for an ongoing source of correct knowledge to apply in your leadership development efforts, please consider our Most Remarkable Free Leadership Gift Ever - which will provide you with a tremendous amount of best practice information as well as offer you an opportunity to get on an ongoing path of continual improvement.

A final note.  As I laid in bed this morning, pondering a blog post, this idea of Labor Under Correct Knowledge came to me.  As I sit here writing it now, I wonder if I created it or my subconscious found it in my memory bank.  If you have read this somewhere else, please leave me a comment.  It is not my intention to steal someone else's great idea, simply to keep us all clear of our personal responsibility for any and all success we achieve as leaders.

Labels: effort, leadership, luck, success

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