08/16/2026
Try this today 👇
Every time you read or hear the word leader, replace it with collaborator.
You may not only see the difference.
You may feel it.
A leader is a temporary role, much like a follower.
If we are talking about leading, we are talking about you.
If we are talking about following, we are talking about me.
If we are talking about collaborating, we are talking about us. 🤝
That distinction matters.
In Talent Development 2.0, manager and leader are not synonymous.
A manager is a position.
A leader is a role.
Both are equally important and are not in competition with one another.
They simply serve different purposes.
And leader, leading, and leadership are not the same thing.
Look them up in Merriam-Webster, and you may be surprised by what you read. 📖
So why does the word leader make people feel important?
Because historically, the word “leader” was associated with people of status and authority: kings, pharaohs, emperors, military commanders, and other powerful figures. 👑
That thinking became deeply embedded in the Great Man Theory of leadership: the belief that being a leader belonged to exceptional individuals with certain preferred traits who stood above others and directed followers.
We still carry some of that thinking today, especially in Talent Development 1.0.
Calling someone a leader can sound like we are elevating that person above everyone else.
But 21st-century leadership development requires a different way of thinking. 🔄
Here is my definition of a leader for business:
A leader is someone who offers a new vision in response to perceived dissatisfaction with the current or future state and is courageous enough to influence others, without relying on authority, to drive meaningful change for everyone’s benefit.
Being a leader is not about being above someone.
It is a role any one can perform when change is needed.
And ultimately, the new goal of talent development is not to create more people who want to be called leaders.
The goal is to inspire and coach more people to become effective collaborators who know and pratice 21st-century leadership. 🤝
That is Talent Development 2.0.
Learn more by reading my book, Doing The Chores: Creating the Groundwork for Success! 📚
Link in the comments.
