Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Message from the Lead Dog Principal #2

Who is your “kingmaker?”

You may be asking yourself, what the heck is a “kingmaker?”   And of course, the follow-up question to this, is why is it so important that you know who this person is?

I will start by explaining what I mean by the term “kingmaker.”  It is that person who operates behind the scenes that has somehow been empowered to pull whatever strings necessary to attain whatever he or she wants.  I am convinced that every school, school district or for that matter any business or organization has at least one of these so-called makers of kings.

And yes, it is important to know who this kingmaker is, because to be a successful leader you will have to work either through or around this person.  You may have to outsmart him or her.  You may have to outwork him or her.  You may just succumb to this person.  I hope that you do not choose that course of action but I will almost guarantee that if you choose to bring this “kingmaker” down, you will lose.  You will lose big time.

This “kingmaker” will operate covertly behind the scenes.  He or she will have a special ability to work any room.  He or she knows everyone and will use every means possible to manipulate that person or situation to his or her advantage. This “kingmaker” has an uncanny ability to make one feel good.  People enjoy being around this person and ultimately will do what this person wants in order to stay in this “kingmaker’s” good graces. He or she possesses a great deal of charisma and this “kingmaker” knows it and more importantly knows how to use it.

The “kingmaker’s” most important ability is to manipulate promotions or new hirings.  Because if this self-appointed “kingmaker” fails to bless this promotion or new hire, I doubt if it will happen.  You must also not forget that once that person is hired or promoted, they will know that they were “blessed.”  Once this happens, the “kingmaker” owns them. And if somehow a promotion or hire slips by this person, they will do whatever is possible to sabotage any success that person may enjoy.

Somehow, this “kingmaker” gets you and once you are in its web, it is almost impossible to escape it. 

Throughout my career I have seen people try to buck this “kingmaker.”  They grossly underestimated his or her power.  To escape this web these people had to leave the district and start anew somewhere else.

Now the real question becomes, how do you survive with these “kingmakers?”  It is not easy but I think for you to be successful you have to give a little power to gain a little power.  Go seek this person’s advice on certain ideas.  Give this person an idea where you are headed and what might be on your mind. Try to turn the tables and attempt to figure out where they are headed.  Where is their head?  Once you know this, you are in a better place to get what you want, be it a program or a person.

When you can, throw this person a bone every now and then.  Then when something is very important to you, you may be in a better place to gain this “kingmaker’s endorsement.

Remember, power doesn’t necessarily come with the job title.  You have to earn it and at times you have to really work for it.  But I warn you, do not sell your soul to this person because once you do, there is no going back.

Please take a moment to share your thoughts about the “kingmaker” in your school or organization. Do you have a ‘kingmaker?”  How does he or she operate?  How do you work with this person?  I would love to get a discussion going on this topic.  Thanks.