One of the a leaders greatest failures is a lack of humility.  Often the trappings of leadership, things like large offices, special assistants and inaccessibility, send the message “I am special”

A key to building a strong follower-ship through collaboration is to behave in a way that clearly proves you believe everyone is important, equally so.

  Check with my Assistant

I find nothing more demeaning than being asked to check with an assistant for time to talk to someone who is so much more important than you are they require assistance to control their access.

Great leaders encourage interactions with everyone.  They do not hold their positional importance in high esteem but rather value their followers more.

After all without followers you cannot be a leader.  You can definitely lead effectively without large offices, special perks and  an army of personal assistants, although admittedly these things are nice to have.

Humility Wins

The key is to be consistently humble in everything you do and not lord your greatness over others through boastful behaviour. You must both believe and act like your time is not more important than that of someone else.

The historic trappings of leadership, think emperors and other monarchs, do seem to have benefit from the leaders perspective, not at all from the followers.

When you are charged with facilitating everyone to become great recognizing and drawing out their personal greatness requires you to remain on their level.  They must feel and return your empathy to receive the gift of greatness it is yours to grant them.