The Leadership Contract: The Fine Print to Becoming a Great Leader

CHAPTER 8

Signing the Leadership Contract

By now you know about my leadership contract and its four terms for redefining how you lead. It begins with holding yourself to a higher standard as a leader. You commit to setting the pace for others as you strive to be the best leader you can be. First you define who you are as a leader, not solely by your technical expertise. Refusing to settle for mediocrity and no longer tolerating lame leadership in yourself and those around you are key steps.

Up to this point in time, you might have been a leader who just clicked Agree without truly understanding what you've signed. Maybe you let the lure of a new title, status, more money, and potential perks cloud your judgment. Maybe you were swept away by the opportunity and ended up underestimating what it takes to be effective. Whatever the situation, if you clicked Agree without truly understanding the four terms of the leadership contract, you can't be as effective as you need to be.

By now you also know that leadership is a decision you have to consciously make. You first understand there are times when you have to pause, take a time-out, and make a Big D leadership decision. You recognize that in the daily act of leading, you will also make many small d leadership decisions. Both types of decisions will shape who you are as a leader. You'll notice a visceral difference when you make these decisions more deliberately. You'll feel it, and so will those around you.

Second, you know that