Don’t Forget About 3G
David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer

Do you remember when 3G was the latest and greatest? Then there was 4G, 4G LTE, and now 5G. I’m not even sure what it all means. One would think that G means something scientific, but all it really means is Generation. I always thought LTE was an abbreviation for lite and it turns out I was wrong. It stands for Long-Term Evolution, whatever that means. What if I told you 3G was also related to leadership, and you better not forget about it? In fact, it might be the most important way to determine a leader’s potential. So let’s jump right in. 3G in leadership stands for Grounded, Gifted, and Growing.

Grounded – It’s been said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. One of the most frightening things for a team is a boss who thinks they finally have power and feel the need to use it. Leadership is about influence and adding value to people’s lives. It’s about realizing that they have great power and utilizing that power to make other people’s lives better. It’s about finding resources and supporting their team. It’s about leading their team to a level they never thought possible. Unless a leader is grounded, they often fall prey to their ego and begin destroying the team that they have been entrusted with.

Gifted – Everyone has gifts, but not everyone is gifted in leadership. Being gifted in leadership is being able to see the giftedness in others and exercising that giftedness to help others develop their unique talents and abilities. Leadership is hard, but for those who possess the gift of leadership, they become energized and strengthen as they use their gift. It propels them through tough situations and challenges.

Growing – If you are looking for a leader, start by finding someone who is growing. I say start here because it will be easiest to spot. Growing people are always improving. They are looking for ways to learn new things, attending events, and making the best use of their time. They will be sharing what they are learning through podcasts and from the books they read. Often, they are unhappy with the status quo and challenge us to keep moving. Some may think they are just a pain, but they only want others to grow as well.

If you find someone who is 3G, make sure you sit down with them. They just might be your next leader.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic, please join Marisa Norcross and me for Episode 143 of The Next Page podcast as we discuss what a 3G person really looks like, and how we can spot them.

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