<< Back To Leadership Unlimited Archive

October 2006

Leader’s Job Is Teaching Others to Lead

He was short, he was stocky, he was a police officer.  And, something he said really intrigued me.  His name is Jamie Cheatem, he works on the college campus where I dropped off my son last month, and we were talking about his role as a police officer on a college campus. 

Here’s what he said:  “My philosophy is that all around the perimeter of the campus are invisible signs that say one thing—Enter to learn, exit to lead.”

Yes, he’s a police officer, but in his mind his role as a police officer for Loyola College in Maryland is to teach the students to be leaders.  For him, whenever he’s interacting with students, it’s not just about law and order.  It’s about leadership.

This philosophy appeals to me on a couple levels.  First, I believe that all the principles I address, whether in this column, or in my consulting practice, are NOT just about work.  These principles apply just as much to our lives outside of work.

Leadership principles apply wherever you find yourself when you’re not working:  Your family relationships; your neighborhood; your religious organization; your civic group; your bowling league, or other hobby.

Wherever you find yourself dealing with other people, you have the opportunity to exercise the many different aspects of leadership.  Building trust, motivating others, leading by example, communicating clearly and forcefully, having a clear sense of your purpose, vision, and values.

They’re not just for the workplace. 

One of the great things about leadership is that the non-workplace environment affords us the opportunity to practice all of these leadership principles, and try out new leadership ideas. 

Then, when we try them out “for real” in the workplace, we know what we’re doing, and we’re more proficient at displaying and exercising leadership.

Officer Cheatem realizes that leadership is an important skill for college students to learn.  I share his belief.

The other reason for liking his philosophy is because he sees teaching leadership as part of his job as a campus police officer.  He also saw it as part of his job working for a big city police department prior to working at Loyola College in Maryland.

It probably doesn’t surprise you that I like this aspect of his philosophy.  You’ve read in this column many times that teaching leadership is an essential part of exercising leadership.

I come from a long line of teachers, and have great respect for the teaching profession.  In fact, I regard teaching as the oldest profession, because as long as we as a species have been parenting, we’ve been teaching.

And one of the most important things we can teach is leadership.  Whether you’re teaching it to your children, your employees, your customers.  Whether you’re the CEO, a VP, or an employee working on the assembly line.  Whether you’re in a corporation, a non-profit, or a school.

Even if you’re a cop on a college campus in Baltimore.  (Maybe especially as a cop on a college campus!)  Your job is to teach others to be effective leaders.

The great thing about the college campus is that although there may not be courses in leadership, everyone there should be teaching leadership, because today’s college students are tomorrow’s leaders.  And the best way to teach leadership is by example.

And if you are in a leadership position at work, you must remember that the employees are always watching.  Everything you do, they’re watching, trying to decide if you’re trustworthy, if you walk your talk.

Whether you like it or not, you’re teaching, and the subject you’re teaching is leadership. 

Stealing a page from Officer Cheatem, let me say this:  Your sphere of influence has invisible signs that say, “Enter to learn.  Exit to lead.”   

When people enter your sphere of influence, what leadership lessons are you teaching?  By watching your behavior, what lessons are your “students” learning?

Until next edition, keep leading the way!

Copyright (C) 2006 by Terry Wall

<< Back To Leadership Unlimited Archive