Written by Wesley Watt, 2023 Fall Leadership Discovery participant
As part of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce program Leadership Discovery, participants hear stories and advice from experienced practitioners as they contemplate their own journey of growth in the area of leadership. Recently, Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Bryan Derreberry highlighted the importance of the Chamber’s offerings to local leaders. “It’s lonely at the top,” he stated, pointing out that the higher one rises in the ranks, the fewer peers they have to commiserate, celebrate or collaborate with.
The conversation then turned inward, as the class was asked to think of the best leader they had encountered, followed by the worst leader they had dealt with. As individual experiences were shared, a common theme emerged that true leaders do and must serve as “table-setters,” responsible for setting expectations, setting the atmosphere and setting the team up for success. As the global community down to the Lowcountry region experiences new types of issues in the twenty-first century, new leaders with the skills to integrate everyone into a cohesive team are desperately needed. These table-setters will demonstrate, as Derreberry affirmed, “relationships precede results.”
This new type of leader, a “humble, reputation-less leader”, while the type of guide our communities and issues demand, is also scarcer than ever. As a type of “star leader” is still emulated by many, based on antiquated twentieth-century ideas of macho men giving marching orders that are blindly followed, Derreberry outlined five characteristics of this new type for a new time. Firstly, these leaders are purposeful and missional, forgoing personal power in lieu of a transformational mindset. The leaders inspire a movement that continues past their tenure, an idea bigger than a single individual. Second is the switch from a sense of increase to a focus on decrease. These leaders sacrifice themselves to increase others, a path of “downward mobility” where attention is paid to growing the people they need. Quoting author Max De Pree, Derreberry expressed, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.”
A third characteristic of this new twenty-first century leader is the difference between a human “being” versus a human “doing”. A leader places people above results, seeing processes as a way to facilitate collaboration instead of rules to follow. These morally aware leaders, fourthly, are centered in humility. They see leadership as a gift given to them and own the weightiness of this responsibility. While humble, they are not weak, still seeking continuous improvement. Lastly, these leaders “pick a different mark”—in more ways than one. They redirect praise instead of absorbing it, while conversely assuming blame directed at their followers. They set high standards for those around them and are willing to accept conflict in pursuit of the right outcome.
Derreberry concluded his time with the Leadership Discovery cohort with a charge to “be a good ancestor”. Leaders must guide their followers consciously and continually, avoiding transactional “accountant” leadership and instead acting as guides, inspirations and servants. After over 10 years with the Charleston Metro Chamber and 30 in the economic development arena, Derreberry had a wealth of knowledge to share with the younger generation of leaders.
Interested in learning more about Leadership Discovery and other leadership development opportunities the Chamber provides? Visit the Leadership Development page for additional information.
