Lesson #5 Fundamental Leadership
Seek out education & leadership training
In line with the Fundamental Leadership lessons to date, it seems fitting at this point to cover the topic of training and education. Just prior to writing this memo I came across a quote from Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) that captures the point of this lesson very well. He said “Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men (and women) to the divined.” This quote speaks of two things needed to master an ability, knowledge and secrets.
There are a number of formal education programs for business professionals to gain knowledge. You can study general business, accounting, human resources, information systems, construction and project management, finance, business law and organizational psychology to name a few. Programs are available in high school, with certificates, associates, bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in colleges and universities. I have come across over the years people in upper leadership positions that did not have advanced education beyond high school. The famous example of Bill Gates, who dropped out of college to create the IT operating system now known as Windows, is often quoted as an excuse not to get an education.
This raises the questions, “Why spend the time, money and effort to get an education?” My thought is that it comes down to this, a leader is an agent for a principle. This means that they have taken on a promise and duty to place someone else’s interest ahead of their own. Case law has established several duties due to agents not fulfilling their commitment to the principle. We know these collectively as Fiduciary Duties. One of the duties in the list is the Duty of Care. This duty has a couple parts. Certainly it is the duty of an agent to have and take care of the interests of the principle. The obligation goes much further than just a nice thought. It means that a person should not take on an assignment, role or work for which they do not have the right training and experience. For example, a general surgeon who sees a position listed as an orthopedic surgeon with a higher salary at a better hospital than what they currently hold, can they apply for the job and accept it? No, they do not have the training and skills. The same is true in business. One should not accept duties, roles, positions and responsibilities for which they do not have the education, training and experience. They will have in their trust peoples lives, jobs, incomes, retirement and the company as a whole. There is a saying I hear on occasion, “Fake it till you make it.” Sounds like a pirate to me. As a turn-around specialist I have seen several executives and department managers with insufficient education, training and experience take on the role and use the company as a training ground in the school of “Trial and Error”. Business is not a hard subject to learn and not to expensive compared to what is at stake in a company. If you have some experience and feel you know quite a bit from “on the job” training then prove it by getting a degree. For working professionals there are programs like Western Governors where a student takes a test on the topics of the course. If they pass the exam they move on to the next course until they come across material they don’t know. They then study the material and take the test again. Easy peasy. You will find that the standard of care in the field of business leadership for those in upper-level positions is to have an advanced degree or degrees. In the military the difference between being an enlisted leader and an officer is a bachelors degree.
A career in business lasts 40 years. It takes about 4 to 5 years to get a bachelors and one to two years to get a masters. In my experience, a bachelors degree has a shelf life of about seven years. You won’t be able to make it through all your career with just a bachelors degree. By the time seven years have passed there are now recent grads entering the workforce with more current education than you possess. Education and training is something one should continually obtain.
The quote from Beethoven spoke also of secrets. Its very true, there are many secrets not taught in college or the university regarding business and leadership. In fact, most of these programs teach technical skills not leadership. For example, I have never seen a course available in college for Board Governance. Can’t tell you how many executives I have seen give advice and direction to boards on governance by virtue of their MBA. When I ask them if they have taken a course or read a book on governance they say “no, not necessary.” Sure sign of a pirate to commandeer a ship under false pretense and use it as they will. My advice, while you learn the technical aspects of a business program, seek out leadership training. Congratulations on pursuing this course. It’s a great place to get started. You won’t find this in most MBA programs.
There are many topics to learn, skills to develop, and subjects to explore more deeply. Along with your education and experience, lean into the secrets. It will be well worth the time and effort to elevate yourself. Need some examples, Check out Dale Carnegies, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” or Jack “The Like Switch” and Ron Willingham’s “Integrity Selling for the 21 Century.” There are many topics to learn that will strengthen your unique and personal leadership skills. Just like there are many athletes with varying degrees of skill, there are many leaders with varying levels of ability. The difference between you and them is effort.