Not Just a Hot Mess After All: What the discovery of a “new” organ teaches us about leadership

Not Just a Hot Mess After All: What the discovery of a “new” organ teaches us about leadership

In newly published findings, researchers in Ireland believe they have discovered a new organ in the human body, known as mesentery.

Here’s the creepy part: It was lurking there–the. whole. time.

It’s not like a new galaxy found light years away–it’s more like how Pluto is a planet, then not, then is.

Scientists have long known about the mesentery; they just thought it was a mess of fragmented structures holding up our upper and lower intestines – like a bra, but for bowels.

What makes this remarkable, besides giving editors a cool headline? Naming a new organ isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence, but there’s more to the story.

Now that scientists have anointed mesentery as a likely organ, it gets the privileges that go with such a visceral vaunted status: its own branch of science, its own research, its own investigation into how it might help fight disease. It’ll probably get an AMEX “black” card now, too.

Anyway, as far as we know, nothing much has changed about the mesentery in the past 100 years or so. The only thing that’s changed is its discovery as a continuous structure, and therefore, its new classification.

What changed about the mesentery is one thing: its named potential.

Are you ready to elevate something (or in this case, someone) to the next level in your organization? Find that person–that every day hero, lurking in the shadows behind the more famous organs getting all the colored ribbons and the funding. Name their potential, be their champion, and see what happens.

So, how do you find the leaders hiding in plain sight? Here are eight characteristics to watch for:

1. Consistency: Does the employee show consistent work, regardless of the task? It’s great if she can do a great job on the work she’s most passionate about, but sometimes boring tasks will cross her desk. Will she put forth the same effort and quality of work?

2. Servant Heart: Does the employee show a heart towards others? A willingness to serve the employees he leads is a true indicator of success for leaders. Caring for others’ needs, sharing success with other teammates–these are the traits that will make someone a great leader.

3. Good Listener: Does she listen well? Good listeners are invaluable; they are open to feedback and hear their teammates’ concerns. Your future leader needs not only to care about her own ideas but the best ideas, wherever they originate. If she’s a good listener, she will hear the concerns of her clients, employees, and managers.

4. Trustworthy: Can you trust this employee with time-sensitive work? Would you trust him with your LinkedIn password? Can you picture sending this person in your stead to a meeting or client visit? If you can’t trust him, it doesn’t matter how charismatic or intelligent he is.

5. A coach’s who’s coachable: A good leader can coach other employees. It’s the opposite attitude of “I’d rather just do it myself.” If she can coach, she can help others see the vision, and she can reproduce other future leaders. As Ralph Nader once said, “The purpose of a leader is to produce more leaders, not more followers”. Investing in her would pay off in spades. At the same time, she also needs to be coachable: If she’s elevated to lead a project, she needs confidence, but not cockiness.

6. Collaborative: A leader with potential won’t simply be great at her job. She will want to help others do their jobs well, and she will find ways to do it. She will celebrate others’ successes.

7. Strategic Thinking: You need more than a good employee. You need someone who can think strategically, who can realize your vision, and make his own.

8. The Desire to Lead: Some people, no matter their talents, might prefer to clock in and out each day and work a job they can leave at the office–no calls, no concerns. If she doesn’t have the desire to lead, all the coaching and training (likely) won’t change that.

So get to work on elevating and investing in a hidden gem in your organization.

And hurry, before they tell us the lowly gallbladder is actually an anatomical all-star.

This article was published by Scott Mautz & Natalie Hastings

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