Modeling Leadership? There is no Blueprint

Modeling is not a substitution for being real.

The idea of transformational leadership, leadership that impacts legions of people, is something that we want to replicate.  We want to understand the process of being great so that we can make a great difference. As an example, there is a lot of buzz about the movie “Steve Jobs” and his contribution to how we live now technology and leadership. Portrayed is also the difficulty he presented for those people who worked with him, that Steve Jobs was no saint. And yet for some people he was a pleasant and likeable genius. Human beings with a commitment can also show up like Mother Teresa. There might have had some moments where she was not so pleasant.

Ask yourself, what do Mother Teresa and Steve Jobs have in common?

Don’t get stuck mimicking or modeling style, it is not what has us do great things. There is no magic in the style of leadership, nor is following a set of numbers (15 keys to?) a blueprint for anyone’s success.