The Art of Natural Leadership

The young man reached for the latch on the garden gate, but then he paused. Could this organization really be as good as they said? Would he really find a harmonious and vibrant environment cared for by strong leaders?
He forced himself to open the gate. It creaked just slightly, and then through the opening he saw something he could hardly take in. It was more than a mere garden; it was an entire ecosystem that was so bright, so green, so vibrant that it was almost blinding. There was nothing to compare it to, nothing that came close to anything he had seen before.
Everywhere he looked, there were peaceful, awe-inspiring scenes. He was surrounded by lush flora, waterfalls the color of blue glass, birds chirping gleefully, fragrant flowers, and clear, crisp air. It felt like a fairy tale come true. Where was he? How could such a wonderful, lush, vibrant ecosystem exist?
He stepped through the door, drinking in the beautiful scenery around him. As he wandered through the delightful landscape, he heard a noise over to the left. There he saw a man who was bent over a plant, inspecting the leaves. The gardener was so intent on his work that he didn’t notice the young man’s presence. He seemed interested only in what he was doing.
“Excuse me, sir. I’m Adam,” said the young man. The older man didn’t look up or turn, but just kept working on the plant. “Excuse me,” Adam said again, clearing his throat. “I believe we had an appointment? I’m here to shadow you and learn from you. Sorry I’m a bit early.” The gardener’s only acknowledgement was to lift his hand, signaling Adam to wait just a moment. Finally, he seemed satisfied with what he had accomplished and slowly turned to him.
Adam was not sure what he had expected, but this man was not it. The gardener was slightly stooped and his hands were calloused, but his weathered face was softened by a welcoming smile that made Adam realize that this man could be easily approached. His eyes were intent, taking in everything without judgment. Adam was immediately drawn to this kindly caretaker of an incredible ecosystem. “I’m ready to teach you now,” said the man. “You can call me Ned.”
Ned waited quietly for Adam to speak. Finally, Adam asked, “What is this place, and how did you create such an incredible ecosystem?”
Ned wiped his hands on his jeans and said, “Well, I guess I was simply living out what I believe.”
“But how does that work?” asked Adam. “How do your beliefs and passions actually impact something as much as you have this beautiful ecosystem?”
“That’s easy,” replied Ned. “You see, when you act in ways that are true to who you are, good things can happen. My team knows that I am true to my word, and they sense that I am committed to what we are striving to create. Nothing is more powerful than that!”
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One of the basic tenets of nature is integrity within each species. For instance, a tomato plant will grow tomatoes, not corn. An oak tree will grow acorns, which create more oak trees, not maples. A Collie dog gives birth to Collies, not Saint Bernards. This integrity within species is so consistent that it makes further explanation unnecessary. All species, in effect, are true to their nature and identity.
Likewise, the first key to natural leadership consists of character and integrity. Integrity is upholding consistency in our thoughts, words, and actions. One of the ways that your team will evaluate your integrity is through how well they can predict what you will do, the decisions you will make, and how you will react. There is security in knowing who a person is inside, what they value, and what they stand for in the face of adversity. Integrity and trust are the bedrocks of relationships, and allow people to work in harmony with each other. Only then can people demonstrate respect and work interdependently.
A great example of integrity was reported several years ago, when a regional manager for a large grocery chain protected consumers in the face of a poison scare. Along with his usual shipment of produce, this manager had also received an anonymous letter stating that the produce had been intentionally poisoned. There was no way to know for sure if the produce was good or not. But the value of the produce was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. He had to ask himself, should he risk keeping the produce and potentially put his clients’ health at risk? Or should he throw the produce out and lose all that money?
The regional manager made the difficult but correct decision to throw out the produce. He would not squander his integrity just to make money. The message to his customers was clear: they would always come first in his eyes. Therefore, this manager has gained the loyalty of many customers who trust and rely on him for quality products. Moreover, his exemplary actions were reported in the Grand Rapids Press and other periodicals. The publicity generated by this manager’s decision produced great benefits for the grocery chain. That’s why integrity is key for natural leaders! The negative implications for themselves, their teams, and their clients if they fail to act with integrity are tremendous.
Natural leaders understand that once their team stops trusting them or stops believing that who and what they represent is “for real,” their leadership is lost. People will not follow you without knowing that you are genuine and honest with them. Team members will not believe that what you are doing is in their best interests.
Likewise, if clients suspect that you are not being honest with them, they will either leave immediately, or will only remain loyal until a better offer comes along. When given a comparable choice, clients will gravitate toward honest leaders and organizations. Organizations that stand behind their promises are the ones that will rise to the top and sustain long-term growth.