Leadership Lessons from Chocolate Hobnobs

Jun 15, 2024

Leadership Lessons from Chocolate Hobnobs

Introduction

  • Focus: What chocolate hobnobs can teach us about leadership.
  • Key Messages:
    1. Leadership is not about position but about who you are.
    2. Every person has the potential to be a leader as true leadership is about service, not dominion.

The Complexity of Modern Leadership

  • Leadership theories have become overly complex.
  • Google search example: 760 million results for 'leadership' in half a second.
  • Modern search behavior linked to everyday inconveniences (like searching for keys) illustrates complexity.
  • The essence of leadership is lost in the sea of theories.

The Two Simple Rules of Leadership

  1. Rule Number One: It's Not About You
  • True leadership focuses on others, not oneself.
  • Historical Perspective:
    • Lao Tzu: Best leaders are barely known to people.
    • Sun Tzu: Leaders do not covet, protect, and serve without disgrace.
    • Cicero: Leaders deliver through others.
    • Jesus: Service is key to greatness.
  • Contrast with Machiavelli (16th century): Leadership as power maintenance.
  • Effect on Modern Theories: Scientific management, behavioral models, and celebrity CEO culture.
  • Inspirational Thoughts:
    • Eleanor Roosevelt: Great leaders inspire confidence in others.
    • John Maxwell: Five levels of leadership — moving beyond mere position to deeper connections.
  1. Rule Number Two: It's Only About You
  • Change and improvement start with oneself.
  • Robert Greenleaf's Servant Leadership: Revives rule number one but misses rule number two until now.
  • Authentic Leadership: Aligns with understanding and acting at one's best.
  • Historical Parallels:
    • Nelson Mandela: Change in others begins with oneself.
    • Lao Tzu, Cicero, Jesus: Ancient wisdom on self-mastery.
  • True leaders should self-reflect and improve themselves to create a nurturing environment.
  • Common mistake: Blaming others and not taking personal responsibility.

Leadership in Practice

  • Personal anecdote: Insights from leading a chocolate hobnob factory.
  • Importance of self-awareness and improvement in leading teams.
  • Impact of environment created by leaders on their teams.

Conclusion: The Importance of Listening

  • Avoid the silver bullet mentality — no magical solutions exist.
  • Historical wisdom holds valuable leadership lessons.
  • Importance of attentiveness: Listening and learning from past insights.
  • Personal story of the 'key goblin' metaphor to emphasize the importance of careful listening.

Final Thoughts

  • Leadership principles are timeless, simple yet powerful.
  • Rules to remember:
    1. It's not about you.
    2. It's only about you.
  • Encouragement to focus on personal change and authentic leadership.

Thank you.