DANIEL MCCLOUD

On a recent day, when the temperature was an unseasonable 84 degrees, I dared turn on my television to CNN. After about two minutes, I decided that watching another episode of anything would be better. However, I wondered about leadership in this country and the world. It seems that many of today’s leadership styles are often based on creating division, seeking to extract those traits that are the worst of us rather than the good I believe all of us possess. I also state that we all have leadership qualities in various capacities — if not in our professional lives, then certainly in our personal lives.

I recalled reading the book “Leading with Soul: An Uncommon Journey of Spirit “” (Bolman & Deal, 1997) and being introduced to another, non-traditional form of leadership — a less top-down leadership that is more inclusive and introspective. In the book, a high-powered executive named Steve has lost his way, both personally and professionally, and is looking to get his life in order. He starts this process by working with a mentor named Maria.

Through their mentoring journey, we are introduced to a leadership style that requires a deeper understanding of one’s self. This style draws upon the self-reflective and self-awareness aspects of emotional intelligence. The book focuses on leadership when examined from the deepest perspective of one’s soul — that which defines who we are from a spiritual, purpose-driven directive.

As Steve progresses in his mentoring journey, he is introduced to the Four Gifts, which Bolman and Deal define as Love, Authorship, Power, and Significance. These gifts identify those things that are often overlooked but provide excellent insight and a fresh perspective on the traditional concept of leadership. Remember that the most important thing behind giving is the spirit behind it; the Four Gifts only work when given freely, and leaders cannot give what they do not have.

For most of us, the gifts of Love and Power are familiar concepts. However, with most things, context and perspective are critical. It seems that we no longer have a universal understanding of anything, including Love and Power. The other gifts, Authorship, and Significance, may be less familiar but are just as important when seeking to redefine leadership qualities.

The first gift, Love, involves giving. The gift of Love is the hallmark of a great leader — not self-love but Love for work and for those with whom they work. This form of leadership involves caring, and caring begins with knowing, listening, understanding, and accepting. Listening must be intentional and move beyond the sound bites and snippets that are prevalent in today’s social media age.

The second gift is that of Authorship. Bolman and Deal describe this gift as the ability of the leader to create conditions where individuals view themselves and their work as meaningful and worthwhile. The type of leader must be bold and confident to empower individuals with autonomy, which allows them to feel confident in their ability to take ownership of their work and feel good about who they are and what they provide to the organization and the mission. Authorship cultivates teamwork, unity, and shared purpose.

The third gift is Power, which is the ability to influence others. This gift is only meaningful concerning others. The effective leader must recognize that hoarding Power weakens an individual and organization. Recognizing that those who feel powerless may become less effective. When individuals sense that they can influence their world and the organization, they tend to be more productive. They tend to work towards a common cause, a shared purpose.

The final gift is Significance. In other words, what is the “why” of what we do? Once the “why” is determined, how do we place Significance on it? What is meaningful to an individual and the organization? Influential leaders know what is essential to both. Influential leaders recognize the need for cultural diversity, realizing that we all come from different places and can view the world through different lenses. Therefore, influential leaders must be comfortable enough to empower others to celebrate their culture through ceremonies, symbols, and shared stories.

While not new, the concepts of the Four Gifts move beyond being familiar words and ideas. They offer a fresh perspective on what leadership can look like when viewed from the leadership perspective. The Four Gifts force the leader to look inward to work outward in their approach to leading and helping others. Leaders must be the best version of themselves, which often involves admitting faults and recognizing that they are not always right and cannot survive without the help of others. There must be a universal respect for others, with a focus on the well-being of all. The ability of a leader to provide this to others is, indeed, a priceless gift.