The Leadership Contract Field Guide

Chapter 2What Is the Leadership Contract?

I believe it is human nature to hold anyone we deem “a leader” to a higher standard of behavior. It doesn't matter whether that person is the head of a country, a CEO of a company, an executive, a senior manager, a front-line supervisor, or a team lead. Once we know that people are in a leadership role, we expect more from them. We always have high expectations of our leaders—and so we should.

As a result, when you take on a leadership role, you are signing up for something really important. You are being held to a higher standard of behavior and expectations.

To me, this implies that there is a contract when you take on a leadership role at any level. This contract demands that you be clear on what it means to be a leader; you must understand the expectations people have of you. It also demands that you commit to leading in a truly accountable manner.

I believe this leadership contract has always existed, but it is more important today because being an accountable leader is more critical. This leadership contract isn't just for our most senior leaders; it applies to anyone in any leadership role.

Nonetheless, I find too many leaders are not entirely clear that a leadership contract even exists; many have not read its terms and conditions. Others simply click “agree” the way we do when we're completing online transactions. The window with the online contract pops up on our laptop screen or tablet, and then we quickly scroll to the bottom ...