In my experience, I have come across two natural ways of thinking in most places I have worked or been involved in.
The employee mindset and the leadership mindset.
And, titles and positions don’t necessarily dictate which someone will have.
Allow me to briefly describe the two and you can decide if you agree or otherwise.
An employee mindset is about contribution and getting things done.
It can be task oriented or what I call transactional, and at times, there can be a great deal of volume at a high level of frequency.
You might also see someone with the employee mindset waiting for direction, and/or needing a great deal of guidance on a regular and consistent basis.
These individuals help ensure daily operations run smoothly, consistently and provide the reliability organizations need.
You might even see great quality work and expectations being exceeded.
This is all very good things.
Conversely, a leadership mindset is about vision and responsibility.
Great leaders think beyond their own tasks, considering the bigger picture as it were.
They tend to be self-motivated and not necessarily needing constant guidance and instruction.
They consider impact of decisions on others, the organization and clients alike.
Long-term relationship building and value are at the forefront of their thinking.
And, of course, leading others and building people up is in their wheelhouse.
The reality is that most organizations need both mindsets to succeed.
The important part is to recognize the mindsets and ensure the right people are in the right roles.
And, also importantly, don’t expect people in a role that is meant to have an employee mindset to have a leadership mindset.
It is possible to shift between the two depending on what is in front of you or required, yet from my experience, those with a leadership mindset can do this more readily than those with an employee mindset.
Recognizing and valuing both ways of thinking can create stronger collaboration, greater respect, and a deeper appreciation for how every role contributes to success.