So tonight I’m presenting in my Perspectives in Leadership class. My classmate and I were asked to “enhance a discussion” on Trait Theory. This leadership theory says that effective leaders possess similar characteristics, such as intelligence, determination, self-confidence, and integrity. Makes sense. Trait Theory has its flaws, too. One flaw is that good leadership is always developed.
All things considered, we will be talking about being irreplaceable. Like the Beyoncé song. Here’s some guiding questions:
If good leaders have innate qualities, are they considered irreplaceable? Should they be irreplaceable? If a good leader dies and nobody replaces him or her, were they really a good leader? Or is leadership something more profound, something less ego-driven, something that ought to be replicated, replaced, and modeled?
If Bill Belichick died tomorrow, would the Patriots be dominated?
If LeBron couldn’t play on the Lakers, what would the team look like?
If Serena Williams disappeared, what would happen to Women’s Tennis?
Here is my theory: Good leaders are replaceable. They work to set up systems to ensure organizational success and they spend time developing their followers into leaders. Their loss should not be the death of their company.
But this theory is temporal. It doesn’t mean you should strive to be replaced. It means quite the opposite. You should be irreplaceable by becoming a leader and building up those around you; then you may be replaced.
It’s a team approach, an ego-less pursuit. It’s something I will be struggling with my whole life.
I am uniquely irreplaceable. That is why I must be replaced.