A Leader or a Ruler: Which Role Do You Embody?

By SCOTT DRURY

I always enjoy discussing leadership with other business leaders and owners. The topic is of interest to me because the personality of the person at the top is the personality of the entire company. We can get cliché’ with all the different types of leadership styles blah, blah.

I break it down into two categories. You are either a leader or a ruler.

A leader emulates confidence, is assertive, asking for reasons, not excuses. A leader has high self-worth and can set healthy boundaries with others while demonstrating empathy. A leader motivates with positive energy, encourages personal development and improvement – maybe assisting a teammate with a paradigm shift in his or her view of life or career, valuing strong win-win relationships, is a great listener and above all demonstrates a high level of humility.

A ruler, as I’ve discovered over time, is basically a narcissist.  He or she rules over people with manipulation and control. Rulers are emotionally volatile when questioned or criticized; they always have excuses, not reasons. Relationships are superficial and self-serving. They take credit for others’ work and effort. They lack empathy, are arrogant, feel entitled and fantasize about success and power. They’re the energy vampires of the room and the company, all the while convincing themselves and others that they are “leading” a company, a project or a team. These folks are a cancer in any environment.

Aside from our core values of 1) Check our Ego at the Door, 2) Set the Bar, 3) Have a Positive Attitude and 4) Figure it Out, we have another filter at Bloomsdale Excavating. It’s our definition of teamwork: “To put others’ wants, needs and desires before our own.” Period. Yes, it’s servant leadership. When you see our flag flying on our projects, it represents that we are present and here to serve our customers, our subcontractors, our suppliers and one another. It’s a reminder flapping in the wind every minute of every day. This is the culture we represent and simply expect it in return.

If we, as individuals, can set our self-serving mindset aside and think more about how we can help each other succeed, it’s a magical experience. Productivity increases, levels of efficiency are immediate, you will see results in your safety program, and you will actually be working together for the common goal of “what’s best for you today” rather than “how can I use you for my gain today.” This unlocks a culture of positivity in your business, especially at the project level. One where people will want to come to work, not feel they have to. Our best relationships exist when our definition of teamwork is reciprocated. It’s a win-win. How many projects have you worked on where the weekly progress meetings are nothing but beat-downs, the energy of the jobsite is heavy – almost exhausting – and very few are working together? It’s everyone for themselves. Is this an enjoyable environment? As a general contractor to an owner, a subcontractor to a general contractor, a supplier to the entire project, what will your price be on the next project, if you even submit a bid?

Yeah, I know, we are hardened construction companies and workers. We have schedules to meet, contracts to fulfill carrying risk we probably had no business taking on, employees to manage, cash flow to predict, supply chains to manage, prepare for rain, heat, and cold and try to control all the things we can’t control, and “Scott, you’re expecting me to be nice?!” Silly me. I ask you, are these your excuses for being a ruler? Or are you going to produce the reasons for being a leader?

Leaders and rulers. Which will you be today?

Scott T. Drury is the chief executive officer and visionary at Bloomsdale Excavating Company, Inc.