WHY DO PEOPLE CHANGE WHEN THEY BECOME LEADERS

WHY DO PEOPLE CHANGE WHEN THEY BECOME LEADERS?

Why do people change when they become leaders? Many people do not understand why people "change" when they become manager. The change is most keenly felt when an officer is first made a supervisor. All of a sudden, his or her views of life change. The supervisor no longer fits in with the crowd. Colleagues may feel that he or she has become haughty and no longer worthy of their trust.

However, this change has nothing to do with friendship or attitude. It is brought about by a change in view and duty station. As you rise in leadership, you see things from a new, higher and wider mandate. This changes your understanding of, and approach to everything you do.  It is like looking at a battlefield from the bottom, side or top of a mountain.

At the bottom of the mountain, all the people are engaged in the battle or business. They go about their roles with no more view than the customer they serve. They see things from a point of contact, task and service. Supervisors are moved out of the field to the side of the mountain. On higher ground, the supervisor is able to see where the battle is hot or the business needs greater attention. Of course, the major and the manager are higher up the hill. The army general and general manager are only able to direct the battle or business because they are near the top. Perhaps you now understand why, in the story of Moses, God always called him to the top of the mountain. Each time he came down, he had fresh insight and new laws for the people. When he came down, he changed, because he saw things from Gods point of view.

There are leaders who take their new post as a sign that they are better than others. But by and large, a change in perspective is needed in order to succeed as a leader. Leaders are able to treat staff with empathy when they realize that they do not share the same privileged point of view. Leadership will change you. It may not change your behaviour, but it will change your point of view. No one can escape this change.

Allan