LEADERSHIP
Leadership requires distinct behaviors and attitudes. Before you are a leader success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others .
What are the essential qualities of an effective leader? Can these be recognized and can they be developed?
Leaders are people “who leave their footprints in their areas of passion .”
Great leaders have to be ambidextrous. On one hand they have to be able to execute capably within the current business paradigm “ the way we do business” .On the other hand they must be able to reflect on the current paradigm , find ways to fundamentally improve it and manage the large scale change to a successful conclusion. To be successful one must have both a passion for improving the organization and capability to drive our efforts through to completion.
Managing the day to day , which is the core requirement of any position is no small task. It requires that you produce consistently good results , meet objectives and constantly tune up the business processes that you are employing. Success involves competence , ability and team work. But don’t mistake day to day management for leading paradigmatic change.
Quantum change management is very different from day to day management .It involves conceptualizing and creating fundamental improvements that change the way businesses are done.
In order to lead paradigmatic change you need eight essential characteristics which are as follows:
- Capacity for passion : Burning drive to make things better
- Perspective: Able to step back and view what you are doing even while you are doing it
- Creativity : You can develop it from various sources- case studies, business publications etc
- Organization skills: Translating a broad vision into a very well organized practical step by step program.
- Teamwork: Engaging, persuading and working with other people.
- Persistence
- Open mindedness: High level of tolerance for ambiguity
- Integrity: Being honest, being genuine, being motivated by your deeply held values to make your organization better off.
DAILY BALANCING ACT :
Leadership is the ability to manage short term and long term at the same time. Anyone can manage for the short term – just keep squeezing lemon . And anyone can manage for the long term – just keep dreaming. YOU WERE MADE A LEADER BECAUSE SOMEONE BELIEVED THAT YOU COULD SQUEEZE AND DREAM AT THE SAME TIME. . They saw in you as a person with enough insight , experience and rigor to balance the conflicting demands of short and long term results. .
Performing balancing acts everyday is leadership.
Can Leaders be developed:
Most people can develop their leadership skills by working at it. The process starts with the recognition that leadership requires ambidextrous activities . The first hurdle is recognizing that excellence at the day to day is critical , but it is not enough.
To be a great leader you need a certain level of intellect , but not necessarily great genius.You need a certain level of social skills but not necessarily those of a great salesperson. However you need a compulsion to operate at two levels : to be a great doer and a great reflector.
Most importantly to be a great leader you need to find what you really like. That’s where the passion , commitment and integrity comes from. The most underlying factor in leadership is whether a person has searched out and found a great match between what’s in his or her heart , which is what he or she really enjoys and the work situation.
Think about the definition of leaders “ people who leave their footprints in their areas of passion”. Its easy to focus on the first part , how to leave the footprints. But the real power comes from the second , working in your area of passion. If you are doing what you really like , you almost can’t help but feel passion towards making it better.
WHAT LEADERS DO
- Leaders relentlessly upgrade their team , using every encounter as an opportunity to evaluate , coach and build self confidence.
- Leaders make sure people not only see the vision , they live and breathe it .
- Leaders get into everyone’s skin exuding positive energy and optimism.
- Leaders establish trust with candor, transparency and credit .
- Leaders have the courage to make unpopular decisions and gut calls.
- Leaders probe and push with a curiosity that borders on skepticism making sure those questions are answered with action.
- Leaders inspire risk taking and learning by setting the example.
- Leaders celebrate.
