Learn the truths that extraordinary leaders understand in order to become one yourself.
Being (and becoming) an extraordinary leader has a lot to do with learned skills, experience, and competence. But it also has a lot to do with mindset and understanding that there are certain truths to business and leadership.
The Difference Between Education and Training
Extraordinary leaders know the difference between training and education. Because when you train somebody you show them the how, but when you educate somebody you teach them the why.
Have you noticed that the person who knows the how can always find a job? But have you also noticed that the person who knows the why will always be their boss? Because if you know the why you can always figure out the how. So the person who is merely trained knows what to do, the person who is educated knows how to be. Training, for example, is a program; education is a process.
Creativity Is Not Equal To Innovation
You’re creative when you do things differently. You’re innovative when you do things better.
Doing things differently for the sake of doing things differently is often costly and unproductive. An extraordinary leader; however, is intensely interested in doing things better. Because doing things better makes their organization more productive, more profitable, gets better results, makes customers happier, creates greater retention with employees, and so on.
It Doesn’t Matter How Much You Know Or What You Can Do.
We discussed in a previous blog that competence is the root of extraordinary leadership – and that is certainly true. But those who are extraordinary leaders know that what matters most is what other people believe and perceive you can do for them.
For example, your customers don’t care how much you know or what you can do. They only care about what you can do for them. Your boss does not necessarily focus on how much you know or what you can do. They focus on what it is that you can contribute measurably to your organization today.
