President and CEO of Giant Impact and a founding partner in the GiANT Companies, Jeremie Kubicek, Was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about his insightful and groundbreaking book Leadership is Dead: How Influence is Reviving It.
Jeremie Kubicek describes a new form of leadership that applies influence and well meaning power to contribute to the greater good of all people.
Thanks to Jeremie Kubicek for his time, and for the comprehensive and informative responses. They are greatly appreciated.
What was the background to writing the book Leadership is Dead: How Influence is Reviving It?
Jeremie Kubicek: Leadership is Dead is a philosophy of leadership that came through years of practicing being a liberating leader. As new concepts were created and experiences happened our clients and friends kept telling me to write them down. This is that – years full of experiences and wisdom to serve influencers.
What has happened that has caused people to no longer trust their leaders?
Jeremie Kubicek: Words. Rhetoric and Soundbites. Everyday leaders are tired of people saying one thing and doing another. That creates a lack of trust, which is rampant in Washington DC, at the corporate level and with Wall Street.
What do you mean when you write that the traditional leadership model is outdated?
Jeremie Kubicek: Our current leadership model was born out of the industrial revolution with a command and control, top-down style of leadership. The Technology revolution has ushered in different styles of jobs, management of people and products. Thus, it has affected our leadership models and they need to be reestablished.
A good example of this is the US military adjustment made to fighting terror versus another established nation. Fighting terror has caused the way we fight to be extremely different than the past.
Jeremie Kubicek (photo left)
Is it possible to break free of the conventional leadership model and create a new type of leadership?
Jeremie Kubicek: The second part of the leadership model is more of a mindset. Leadership is a vehicle for influence. The way to change the model is to understand the flow of Influence. Leadership is influence. Influence is power. Based on the intent of the leader will lead them to becoming either an empowering leader or a dominating leader.
To become a liberating leader is to break the conventional leadership model.
How is the concept of influence changing the way leaders behave and how people respond to them?
Jeremie Kubicek: Once you understand your motives or intent (packaged into your agenda) then you can become better at influence. To be a positive influence is to practice relationships before opportunity, to learn to be FOR people and how to give yourself away for the benefit of others.
Are there some steps a leader can take to move beyond the standard leadership model and enter the emerging influencer paradigm?
Jeremie Kubicek: This starts with confronting what keeps them mediocre – self-preservation. Self-preservation happens to all of us. Each of us want to protect certain areas in our lives – assets, jobs, salaries, etc. However, when we choose to over protect we divert our energies to keeping what we have worked so hard to obtain. That process leads to actually spending more time on ourselves and less time in our day jobs being excellent for others. Thus, self-preservation is a self-fulfilling prophecy – when you work so hard to protect what you afraid of losing you will lose it faster than you imagined.
To know what your self-preservation tendencies are is to ask the question, “what are you afraid of losing?” When you begin to break through these fears you are well on your way to moving into become an influencer.
Many leaders have forgotten that the more they give, the more they receive. How can leaders be reminded of this age old wisdom?
Jeremie Kubicek: Being an influencer is a lifestyle. The focus is not on what you get, but understanding that by being focused on being significant and memorable in others lives affects your life as well in better sleep, peace filled relationships and goodwill.
You only experience this when you try it. So, start by being learning to be for others rather than simply for yourself.
What is the first step that leaders should take to remove the artificial barriers that surround them?
Jeremie Kubicek: In Chapter 8,9, and 10 in Leadership is Dead I have made a series of lists and questions that are meant to be tools to awaken leaders to think and lead differently. I believe that questions are key to removing barriers. A good question can significantly impact a leader, so I recommend these as a good starting place.
What is next for Jeremie Kubicek?
Jeremie Kubicek: I really believe that the next for me will be in taking a higher message to the National scene in the context of the presidential elections. I am working on some plans to insert a more important message than simply partisan politics and policy issues.
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My book review of Leadership is Dead: How Influence is Reviving It by Jeremie Kubicek.
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