Everyone Else Is Already Taken

So be yourself.

This is, of course, from Oscar Wilde’s famous quote, an essential reminder for anyone working on leading better.

Yes, that’s right, “working” on leading, not “being” a leader. I’ve always had a hard time thinking of leading as a state of “being” a leader. It feels too static. And it opens the door to think of leadership as owning a title.

Leadership is dynamic. Leadership is never done, but it’s always due. So it is a constant work in progress. Hence the verb“working”.

“Pour être boss, et bien mon pote il faut bosser.” - Mc Solaar, Prose Combat - 1994

The essential labor in leadership is to work on being yourself.