Epic means larger-than-life, on a grander scale, and above and beyond the ordinary. Epic is the magnitude found in a Cecil B. DeMille blockbuster movie with enormous sets, panoramic views and large crowds of people. They are like movies envisioned by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, JJ Abrams and James Cameron.
When I apply epic to leadership, I want you to think of leadership that is scalable, based on the situation, circumstances, and demands of the organization and needs of the people. The Epic Leader has the skills, abilities, talent and capacities discussed over the 31 Day Leadership Gauntlet. They produce gargantuan goals and vision, with the courage to be empathetic, resilient and able to adapt style, structure and emotions to be empathetic and emotionally intelligent.
The Epic Leader is in the mind of the beholder; the followers are made bolder because of their ability to shoulder the burdens together. They are effective in working as a team. Size matters to the follower because the Epic Leader is big enough to coach, mentor and lead where leadership is required. The followers feel they can trust them because of their reputation and trustworthy interactions. The Epic Leader also, has a grander vision, a sense of purpose with their egos intact as they develop their people to have the curiosity, strength through interdependence in turbulent times, with the spirituality and curiosity to be creative and able to overcome fear.
The Epic Leader is humble and their humility will not allow them to say, “I’ve got this or I am enough,” but you know it is true from the leadership versatility they exhibit and the leadership power that is granted to them by their followers. The Epic Leader makes others into epic followers. The followers feel like somebody. They feel they are going somewhere and to ready to do something great.
The Epic Leader creates impact players, who are students of the game, in the right role, powered by a dream and who are always created with high standards. They are continuous learners. They are familiar with the work and leadership practices of Gen. Colin Powell. Their people have grit. It is the grit that is talked about by Angela Duckworth and defined as passion and perseverance. The Epic Leader wants to take their people and organizations from good to great as Jim Collins discussed in his book. They have the vulnerability that Brené Brown writes, speaks and researches. They are equipped with the emotional intelligence referred to by Daniel Goleman and Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves. They understand the Givers and Takers as outlined by Adam Grant and Start with Why according to Simon Sinek, and the strengths of their people as championed by Marcus Buckingham.
The Epic Leader ensures their followers will have the appropriate mindset, therefore a they put forth the right effort and preparation. They work to be culturally competent from reading Malcolm Gladwell in his books Blink, the Outsider and Talking to strangers. The epic leader understands unconscious bias through the work of Sondra Thiederman, Making Diversity Work, and the research of Mahzarin R. Babaji and Anthony G. Greenwald summarize in their book about hidden biases, Blindspot. He took the Intrinsic Association Test (IAT) at https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/.
You do not start out saying you want to be an Epic Leader. They would not be the mindset of a person focused on humility. It is a distinction bestowed upon you by those who look up to you and learn from you. You have been a breath of fresh air on their development and they realized how you have improved their environment and enriched their lives.
May you unlock your leadership greatness and become an Epic Leader. May you continue to magnify and multiply; magnify your impact and spread your reach to positively influence more people. I am hopeful that your 31 Day Leadership Gauntlet journey was a mind stimulating, heart inspiring and faith affirming adventure into becoming an Epic leader. May your Epic followers be instrumental in helping you to change the world
The Epic Leader
The Epic Leader surveys the terrain
And ponders the strategy, yet remains
True to the mission; put their people first,
As they seek the best and plan for the worst.
The Epic Leader ascends and descends;
Adjusts and gains trust as they comprehend
The magnitude of the crisis at hand,
To manage chaos, while taking a stand.
Their mission is clear, their vision intact
They may have charisma that will attract,
Or humility and a strength of will
To lead the people with dreams to fulfill.
The Epic Leader has the confidence
Of someone emboldened by competence
And guided by a mission and vision;
A philosophy that shapes decisions.
The Epic Leader walks across the stage;
There is alignment, as people engage
In the moment, confidence exuded,
As people feel affirmed and included.
The rivals don’t always attack at dawn
And competitors charge with weapons drawn.
They have monumental ability
To focus on mental agility.
The Epic Leader manages to rise
To the encounter, but look in their eyes,
For there lies the energy on which they feed;
As power flows from what the people need.
The Epic Leader prepares and repairs.
To show us that leadership shares and cares.
They can get by on a wing and a prayer.
Resourceful, vulnerable, self-aware,
Emotionally wise and capable,
When change is truly inescapable;
Uncertainty is a root of the norm,
They will translate, transcend, as they transform.
The Epic Leader advises their crew
And wisely considers their points of view;
With seafaring credentials to perform;
Courageously at the height of the storm.
Copyright © 2019 Orlando Ceaser
Personal Reflections
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What can you do to become a bigger leader?
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How can you enrich the lives of those I influence?
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What you do today to make person I encounter feel important?
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What are my strengths and weaknesses in interacting, influencing and leading people?
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What are my blind spots, as it relates to understanding people were not like me?
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How do I gather feedback on how others see me?
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Who are the people I should select?
Leadership for the Soul 