Too often, leaders operate with a sense of entitlement, forgetting the fact that they should be helping their people--not ruling over them, says the USTA CIO and executive coach.

One of the most painful things to watch in business is someone who has crawled up the career ladder to a certain level and now feels that he/she has made it and is owed something.

I bristle at people who exhibit a sense of entitlement. To me, leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege. And as a leader, your focus should be on serving those you lead--not on being served by them. I can’t stand people who feel that they’ve made it and that their people are in essence their indentured servants!

I often tell people that they don’t work for me; instead, I work for them. As a leader, my role is to help remove obstacles for my people, provide the resources and support they need to succeed, and ensure that they are recognized and rewarded when they do. How many leaders only show up to take the bow when the project is a success? How many are equally quick to throw their people under the bus at the first sign of problems?

I have a very simple philosophy that goes like this: Make sure your people are recognized and rewarded when things go right. When things go wrong, jump on the grenade--and make sure they don’t get hit with the shrapnel.

People need to know that you have their backs. They need to know that it is safe to take educated risks and be creative and innovate around challenges. If they don’t feel this way, they will always take the safe and easy route and you will never escalate above the realm of mediocrity.

I feel very strongly that when you are a leader, it’s never about you. It’s about your people, your clients, your management, your shareholders, your customers. But it’s never about you. Great leaders strive to serve--not to be served.

Larry Bonfante is CIO of the United States Tennis Association and the founder of CIO Bench Coach, LLC an executive coaching practice focused on transforming the human side of IT leadership. He can be reached at larry@ciobenchcoach.com.

Back to Workforce News