The “man (or woman) behind the curtain”

While sitting with Jon at El Camino (on Cinco de Mayo) last week, a question arose about the role of a manager. Jon is the manager (and emerging leader) of a Fortune 50 Company with plenty of manager titles to go around. But Jon wanted more, he wanted to make a difference. In an attempt to influence his peers and direct reports, Jon found himself searching for the best approach. So we discussed—

The first approach (nearly every person new to management goes through at least a season of this approach) is most like the Wizard in the iconic classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The Wizard is a mystical person who controls various components of his team and business unit with a complex orchestration of buttons, levers, cords, and a voice-enhancing microphone. We’ve all worked with one of these managers at some point. His office door may be open, but there is clearly a curtain. It may not keep you from entering the office, but most definitely keeps you from seeing the real person behind the Manager title.

This manager believes he has achieved some enlightenment (or knows he hasn’t and is compelled to fake it) and must protect it at all cost. This manager seems very important, and is always extremely busy—too busy to truly engage you, and too busy to reveal any aspect of himself (especially his faults). That, my friends, is the curtain.

Success can be gotten this way, for a time. However, this approach neglects the true role of a leader—to develop people, people who can lead themselves, the future of the organization, and the future of our society. Not to mention it obliterates any chance for creativity and innovation.

The second approach is more like that of Dorothy; a likable girl who understands she is on a journey (not unlike everyone else). She leads out of the authenticity of her own experience, adds to it humility, perseverance, insight, and inspiration—all in pursuit of a bigger vision (to get to the Emerald City and meet the Wizard). While journeying with her friends she stirs the Scarecrow to recognize his heart, the Lion to realize his courage, and the Tin Man to discover his brain.

Each of her friends had these gifts all along, but Dorothy led them each to their own discovery of their greatest talents by motivating and inspiring them throughout their journey. She championed authentic conversations, persevered challenges, and called her followers to discover their own greatness.

Dorothy's leadership caused each of her friends to truly come alive, to reveal their innate talents. (Despite the disappointing end to their journey—discovering the truth about the wizard, a hopelessly insecure “leader” behind the curtain.)

True Leadership isn’t about erecting a mystical and secretive curtain.
True Leadership is a relentless pursuit to inspire others to discover and develop their own unique talents, and use them in ways they never dreamed possible.

A debate about the need for a leadership "mask" or “curtain” continues in the comments of a Harvard blog post from late 2009.