Institute for Organization Management - A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  • About
    • General Information
      • Institute Policies and Procedures
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
    • Recruitment Toolkit
    • Prospective Student Toolkit
    • Media
    • Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions
    • Contact Us
  • Curriculum
    • Core Curriculum
    • Elective Curriculum
    • Webinars & Resource Center
  • Sites & Dates
    • Winter Institute
    • Midwest Institute
    • Southeast Institute
    • Northeast Institute
    • 2023 Institute Schedule
  • Registration
    • Registration
    • Deadlines and Fees
    • Scholarships
      • Enrollment Incentives
      • State Partner Scholarship
    • How To Institute
  • Who’s Who
    • Staff
    • Volunteers
    • Faculty
    • Sponsors
    • Alumni
      • IOM Alumni Database
  • Blog
A PROGRAM OF THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION
 

IOM Blog

March 10, 2023

Leadership is a Privilege

Remember when you were learning to drive and your parents and the driving instructor told you, and continued to remind you, that driving is a privilege? No one is entitled to a driver’s license, but we can earn one and work to keep it by not violating the agreement we made when we earned our license.

Leadership is similar in that it is a privilege to be able to lead others and we must take that responsibility seriously. Responsible leadership looks like continuous learning, vulnerability, confidence without ego, accountability, positivity, admission of errors, and creating a culture where team members can grow and thrive.

The greatest leaders are those who treat their leadership role as the privilege it is. A privilege that is theirs to lose.

Unlike that driver’s license, though, when a leadership role is no longer treated as a privilege, there are no mandatory consequences or enforcement policies. There are also no black and white laws about being a good, responsible leader like there are about being a good and responsible driver.

Therefore, leadership is not only a privilege that requires work to keep but it also requires self-discipline to continue to treat it as a privilege. Without clear consequences and structured accountability, it becomes too easy for those in leadership roles to slip into thinking leadership is their right and something they are entitled to. That’s when the door opens for ego to creep in, for continuous learning to go by the wayside, for culture to crash, and for accountability to be tossed out the window.

The best leaders not only treat their leadership like a privilege, but they also have the necessary self-discipline and insight to maintain that perspective even when they could get away with letting it go.

Leadership is an exciting and rewarding privilege, just like becoming a new driver. As you go through your leadership journey do not lose sight of the fact that you need to hold yourself accountable to handling your leadership role like the privilege it is. Lose sight of that, or rely on others to hold you accountable, and you’ll find your leadership journey to be much more challenging and significantly less rewarding than it otherwise would be.

Avatar photo
Jackie Krawczak
Owner
Jackie Krawczak, LLC

Jackie Krawczak is the President of Jackie Krawczak, LLC. She uses her extensive experiences as a leader in a variety of capacities to share valuable insights with her audiences. Her leadership experience includes more than a dozen years as the President/CEO of the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce in Michigan, culture and competency development work for Innova Tech Solutions, LLC, a columnist for the Alpena News, participation on several boards including a member of the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education, a Trustee for the Alpena Community College Foundation, and a Director on the Board of the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals.

While finding success in her career, Jackie also brings the experience of a decades-long struggle with depression and her battle with an eating disorder. She uses her leadership and personal growth experiences to help others in growing their emotional intelligence and leadership.

Jackie holds a Master of Arts Degree from Central Michigan University in Organizational Communication and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Saginaw Valley State University in Communication. In 2018, Jackie was recognized by the Jaycee’s of Michigan as an Outstanding Young Michigander.

She has also been recognized as Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Alpena, and a Michigan Chamber Professional by the Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
DONATE NOW!
UPDATE CONTACT INFO
Sign-up for Emails
Consultations
Approved Provider

About

  • General Information
  • Contact Us
  • Curriculum
  • Prospective Student Toolkit

Sites & Dates

  • Winter Institute
  • Midwest Institute
  • Southeast Institute
  • Northeast Institute

Resources

  • Scholarships
  • Faculty
  • Sponsors
  • Update Contact Info
  • Volunteers

Follow IOM

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
IOM Blog

Institute for Organization Management - A program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce © 2023 | Privacy Policy