A Lesson in Leadership: Humble Leadership Profile #1
I recently started a new job. I had taken a few years off from my investment career to be home with my kids. During that time, I had the privilege of serving on several non-profit boards alongside many people of integrity and character, including a couple, Mark, and his wife, Kim, on two separate board assignments. They are people of accomplishment and influence, but most notably (to me), of great service and generosity. Mark runs an investment firm in town. I decided awhile back that when I was ready to return to work, I’d like to work for him, if given the opportunity.
Unselfish Gestures are Contagious
It didn’t take long to observe the many ways in which Mark’s ethos permeated the company he built and impacted the people he hired and developed. I came in for an interview with Cassie, which was interrupted by Colin, who introduced himself by saying that he worked for her. But Cassie explained that she actually worked for him. I honestly wasn’t sure who worked for whom but understood that they both worked for the team, for each other, for our clients, together. A curious and refreshing exchange.
I was excited to receive an offer and join the team. The company did an office remodel my second week on the job. We all worked remotely for a few days and returned to an open concept with no more offices and no more cubes. Not for the “bosses”, not for anyone. Just open seating where you’re encouraged to sit near someone different each day to connect with and learn from teammates in ways you otherwise wouldn’t with the physical barriers of walls, and the implied barriers of titles. A humble and open-handed proposition.
My third week on the job we did a race called the rugged maniac at a ski mountain nearby. There were lots of obstacles including one where you army crawl through the mud under barbed wire then climb up and out of a 3 foot wide, 15 foot long tunnel. I was second in line and expected the person who was first to keep running. But he stopped, turned around, grabbed my hand and pulled me out. So I did the same thing for the next person. Because unselfish gestures are contagious.
Serving is Leading
It turns out that Colin is Cassie’s boss (and mine, and several others). But he says that we’re his bosses, and he’s here to serve us. He means it and he does his best to live it. When we’re in situations where we have to introduce ourselves and our role at the company he simply says he’s “in a support position”. I’ve seen this happen three or four times now and it’s pretty clear that the other person is wondering if he is actually someone’s assistant? I have a feeling Colin knows that and is happy to let them think it.
Mark started the firm 30 years ago and has been incrementally pushing ownership down to all of the employees. All of them. Everyone who has been part of the team for more than a year has a stake. Because Mark knows that “owners” think differently than “employees” and embraces a life where he doesn’t hold on too tight.
There’s a page in our pitchbook with the header “Serving is Leading”. As in, our leaders care greatly about serving and supporting our employees. As in, our employees care greatly about serving and supporting our clients. As in, the goal of the virtuous cycle is that we attract clients that care greatly about serving and supporting their communities. Because, though providing investment management and wealth advisory services with excellence is the platform, it’s not the endgame. It’s the “so that”… The passion is even bigger than that. It’s a willingness to walk to the back of the line, where the ambition of those on top is to elevate those beneath, setting in motion concentric circles that ripple out and raise the tide.
Read more Humble Leadership profiles here.
This article was written by my wife Kari Norman. She works for Riverbridge Partners, a Minneapolis based investment management and private wealth advisory services firm. Please post a comment or send me a note at matt.norman@dalecarnegie.com to tell me about another humble leader you know that gets results. I’m researching humble leaders and will post what I discover. I’d love to hear your ideas.
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