Legitimate Leadership suggests that leaders should focus on the employee as the result – rather than the employee simply being the means toward achieving a business results. Business leaders tend to focus on the result because that is what they are measured on and shareholders generally care mostly about the returns on their investment.

In this way shareholders may be causing leaders to spend their time in the wrong way, ultimately undermining the very goal they aim to achieve. When leaders are solely focused on the outcome, without considering the people that need to deliver that outcome, the chance of success diminishes.

Let’s consider a situation:

Legitimate leaders see their ultimate responsibility as developing excellent employees. They engage their employees in discussion and ask for their ideas and suggestions. They include employees in decisions for the business. They are not afraid of hearing the truth about the business and the frustrations and obstacles employees face in carrying out the task at hand. These leaders not only have a better understanding of the reality of their day-to-day operation but have employees who are motivated and engaged. These employees are growing and willingly contributing to their full potential.