Insights from a Black Academic Leader: Lars U. Johnson, Ph.D.

The concept of leadership can be confusing to many, especially in a vacuum where they may be expected to create order in a sea of entropy. The ability to make decisions that affect others is a daunting task and many students and those who are new to leadership roles may not know where to start.

For many, the path to becoming an effective leader begins with a college education. Gaining valuable skills and developing soft skills such as communication, networking, and critical thinking, a college education lays the groundwork to successfully lead.

The University of Texas College of Business spoke with Lars U. Johnson Ph.D., College of Business Department of Management Assistant Professor, about his perspective on leadership, what makes and effective leader, and why it’s so important to inspire the next generation of leaders, especially Black leaders.

“One of the primary goals of leadership is to get people to understand whatever the central mission is, and to partially get them to set aside some of their goals to make room for that central mission,” Johnson explained. “As a servant leader, you have to support your followers and constituents in whatever they’re interested in as well.”

Lars U. Johnson, Ph.D., poses for a professional photo. (Courtesy photo)

Johnson explained that being a servant leader requires a closer connection with your followers that can lead to more success in the future.

“It requires a bit of yourself. The reality of it is that people will only buy into something for so long if they have their own goals and aspirations. So, if you know the people in your group are pouring themselves into the organization and pouring into the unit and you’re not supporting them, eventually they’ll leave you,” Johnson said. “You have to buy into your followers or employees just as they buy into the organization.”

Along with the concept of being a servant leader, certain skills help followers or group members buy into the organization and the leader.

“You have to listen. The biggest fault for some leaders is that they talk more than they listen. Listening and understanding are extremely important in organizations because employees will tell you what their obstacles and barriers are and what their needs are,” Johnson said. “You may not be able to meet all of their needs, but the fact that you listen will go a long way. They will get the sense of justice, and that the organization actually cares.”

For students who may feel as though they might not be natural leaders, Johnson explained that there are a variety of ways and opportunities to be a leader. 

“To some people out there, it’s just innate to them. But to others, sometimes people look to them to lead. And to most of us, there will be opportunities that present themselves and it could be through something like a club or organization,” Johnson explained. “Not everyone sees themselves as being leaders. But sometimes we lead by example in ways we may not even realize. You may not be the person saying, ‘hey you need to do this’, but you may be a leader through the quality work you’re doing.”

Johnson looked back upon his journey and thought back to a leader that helped him flourish.

“For me, it was my Sunday school superintendent, he gave me my first teaching job. He showed me a master's program I pursued. Then before my first school year ended, the man who hired me told me I need to go work somewhere else,” Johnson reminisced. “He told me that school wasn’t a place to build my career, and as much as he loved having me there, he told me there are better things I could be doing to position myself for the future.”

Johnson went on to explain that a good leader recognizes the potential and growth of their subordinates and helps them develop themselves. Because of this advice, Johnson found his path and followed it to find success in Academia.

As a faculty member at the UTA College of Business, Johnson has noticed that many students fail to utilize resources that may be right in front of them when developing leadership skills.

“I think one of the things students could do more is reach out to the faculty and staff. Sometimes I feel like students think we’re inaccessible outside of grades and formalized clubs,” Johnson said. “I may not have funding to pay students for research, but I am part of some programs that put students in positions to do high quality research and other opportunities to grow. The other faculty and staff also have opportunities that are similar and are meant for students. So, start asking questions and talk directly to your faculty and staff.”

When discussing the importance of inspiring the next generation, especially Black leaders, Johnson described the potential that could be unearthed when raising students up. 

“We never know who the next Nikki Giovanni or Maya Angelou will be. We don’t know who that person will be, and that person may not know who they could potentially be. We have to help that student light that fire,” Johnson explained. “It’s easy for a lot of students, especially Black students to not always see themselves in the faculty around them. For that reason, it’s important that we encourage and support Black students not only to go into leadership roles, but also to elevate their voices.”

Johnson explained that it’s not only about inspiring individuals but exposing possible opportunities.  

“We need to speak out about unique experiences that may fit our students’ needs. It’s important for us to take personal experiences into consideration and make sure we understand the context of our students and recognize that there’s nuance there,” Johnson said. “Where one group begins to enter a field that’s sparsely populated, there is a void. There’s so much out there and so many disciplines that many are not aware of. As we moved forward, we become increasingly aware of these fields but aren’t exactly sure how to get in. That’s where awareness is the first step.”

The importance of becoming a leader relies on how you choose to lead. From leading by example to being a servant leader, the inspiration one imparts on their team and the level of care they show to their followers is paramount. It is important to lead with compassion, learn your team and their aspirations, and raise their voices to ultimately become leaders themselves and drive change in the future.