The Real Deal Leadership
Let’s be real—leadership isn’t about big words or fancy titles. It’s about getting people
moving in the same direction to get a job done right. Leadership is the grease that
keeps the machine running.
So, here’s the big question: What kind of leader are you? Are you The Real Deal?
Back in the 1960s, people started using the phrase “The Real Deal” to describe
someone who was the genuine article—no fakes, no fluff. It meant you could trust them
to be who they said they were and do what they said they’d do. That kind of trust still
matters today—maybe more than ever.
These days, people talk a lot about “authentic leadership” – meaning a good leader is
real, honest, and true to their values. No mask, no acting. What you see is what you get.
But here’s the real deal:
Being a real leader isn’t just about being true to yourself—it’s also about caring just as
much about the people you lead. That means knowing what matters to them, what
they’re working for, and showing them they matter.
Jeffrey Hull and Margaret Moore wrote a book, The Science of Leadership, and it
breaks it down like this:
-First, a Real Deal leader knows their own purpose and values—and sticks to
them.
-Second, they also understand and respect the purpose and values of the people
they lead.
Doing both makes everything better—everyone works harder, smarter, and with more
heart. And you grow as a leader.
Like Mother Teresa said: “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot;
together we can do great things.”
That’s the “We” mindset. A Real Deal Leader doesn’t just think about themselves, they
think about the team and the organization as a whole. Because when the team wins,
everyone wins.
So, ask yourself: Are you leading with honesty, heart, and hustle? Are you thinking
about the team and organization as much as yourself? Are you the kind of person
others trust to follow?
If so—you’re The Real Deal.
Keep it real,
Jeff
