Leadership for Tomorrow
We can’t get there from here . . .
This is my not-so-subtle way of saying that we need to change our current perspectives or we’re likely to continue in a leadership deficit position into the foreseeable future. Unless we change, it simply isn’t going to improve.
We are already experiencing market and financial pressures in the world, mainly due to irresponsible past practices. However, today, in the US, there’s fresh optimism with the election of Barack Obama and his promises of change. Whether or not he’ll be able to deliver on his promises remains to be seen, but I’m sure, as many others appear to be, that he’ll give it his very best shot.
Agreed, he’s starting out with major impediments – a multi-billion dollar deficit, two substantial wars and a serious lack of investor confidence. The decisions he’ll make and the actions he’ll influence are going to have a major impact on our life style – even for those of us north of the border. For certain, achieving success is going to demand all the wisdom he can muster; we all earnestly pray that he’s going to be equal to the challenges ahead.
Here on the business front, we have a directly comparable situation. Our problem though is that press coverage, and the resultant public opinion, have not raised awareness to the same extent. Most business practitioners are not even alerted to the problem and very few of us are actually excited or passionate about it. Yet the consequences are just about as serious and as pervasive as those facing President-Elect Obama!
Our equivalent of the multi-billion dollar deficit is the substantial devaluation of deliberate leadership development. Our needs for leaders are expanding geometrically yet the available supply of leadership talent is diminishing rapidly. Due to a very short-term focus, there are too many who either do not understand the consequences or who are choosing to ignore them.
Our ‘substantial war’ equivalent is the loss of too many potential leaders through waste and neglect, specifically by the numerous attempts to impose inappropriate strategic thinking that has resulted in unnecessary confrontation and even sabotage. It seems to me that there are far too many bright, young and aspiring leaders who are ‘writing off’ the system and, along with it, their mentors.
The lack of investor confidence has its parallel in the unpredictable perspectives of new, information-rich but wisdom-poor people who are moving into the top business leadership positions before they are fully mature and properly seasoned – and we simply don’t know how to communicate with them effectively. Who can guess at the decisions they’ll be making?
A need for action . . .
It’s almost too late – but not quite! We have to wake up and smell the coffee. Leadership is the ‘brain’ of our future business and we won’t be able to function properly without it. External forces like technology, regulation and resource availability can hurt us as much as they can help us. Every change opportunity is a crucial decision point.
Here’s where I believe we have an advantage over Barack Obama – the vast adaptability and potential in people. To find it and, more importantly to tap into it, we have to raise our sights. For too long we’ve been looking at the issue from the wrong angle. Please, let me explain.
Prevailing executive practice has centered on identifying future leaders from those who are the best performers – the high achievers. This is not sensible or defensible. High achievers are not necessarily potential leaders – they’re likely just well suited to their current roles/jobs. We’ve all discovered that the best salesman doesn’t always become the most effective sales manager; should you promote him or her, you’ll lose twice over!
The qualities that lead to exceptional performance in particular roles and responsibilities may or may not be those of a competent, confident and caring leader. Research shows that there’s little correlation. Many potential leaders will be performing at just average levels in routine, non-leadership roles.
We have to be able to identify the leaders of tomorrow using leadership criteria not just current performance / job-related factors.
So let’s begin with a brief review of leadership theories – do you remember these from your basic management training?
- The ‘Great Man’ theory which says that leaders are born not made
- Trait theory tells us that leaders have a special combination of natural, instinctive characteristics or traits
- Behavioral theory makes the claim that leadership skills can be acquired through training and learning
- Situational theories assert that in each situation there’s a style and/or strategy that’s uniquely appropriate.
As a behaviourist, I believe that there’s truth in each of the approaches.
Making the right choice . . .
Firstly, let’s recognize that there are two quite different change applications each of which calls for radically different leadership interventions – transactional (incremental) and transformative (break-through) changes.
Transactional leadership can be practiced, in fact has to be practiced, by everyone in the organization. It’s basically responsive to the need to improve things, to move things forward and to restore things to an optimal state – how can we make this better? From the Receptionist to the Chief Executive – first contact to ultimate authority – this is a pivotal question to be addressed and resolved.
It results in continuous improvement - escalating quality of product, service, relationships, performance, image, consistency and durability. It ensures profitability, reliability, reputation and longevity. It’s a ‘must-have’!
Transformative leadership demands another question – how can we do this differently? It responds to the fact that the world in which we operate is constantly changing. If we are to enjoy continuing success then we must change, often radically, to accommodate this changing world. We don’t always respond intelligently, sensitively and sometimes we don’t even respond at all. This is where we have to have leadership-by-design-and-intent.
It calls for focus, visions, inspiration, facilitation, collaboration, encouragement, reinforcement and recognition. It makes life exciting, memorable, challenging and also uncomfortable, at least for a short while.
A leader is one who focuses the desire for change that’s resident in others and who then facilitates the realization of a sustainable new reality. Creating transactional change (the incremental kind) does require some leadership initiative but it’s arguable whether it demands a ‘leader’ as defined. On the other hand, transformative change demands deliberate leadership initiative, having the courage to boldly go where none have gone before.
We’re all capable of responding to change opportunities but there are few who will instigate them deliberately. To do so involves risk. Fear of rejection, of being ignored and of possible failure can be overwhelming and we should not expose ourselves without careful consideration. Within some individuals though there are certain personal qualities, seemingly unrelated to leadership, which can surmount these fears and rebalance the ‘courage equation’.
This reflects aspects of the Trait and Situational theories of leadership and may even suggest that some people are genetically disposed towards taking leadership roles. However, the bottom line is that it’s awareness of the situation, the demands that it can impose and, most important of all, awareness of our self as a prospective leader that will enhance our prospects for success. Fortunately, we’re all able to learn about ourselves.
Making it reality . . .
I’d like to offer one possible framework to identify those who can lead transformational (break-through) change. You can search for the answers within yourself as well as within others, and while there are no sure-fire conclusions, you will achieve greater insights and more coherent conclusions if your approach is well disciplined.
Here are the six pillars of leadership that I use in assessment. Transformational leaders are:
- Self Aware – they know themselves for who they really are
- Passionate – they truly care about finding a way forward for everyone
- Visionary – they can see the possibilities and are confident they’re achievable
- Other-Centered – they are inwardly directed but alert and sensitive to the needs of others
- Credible – having the highest integrity they inspire and sustain trust and confidence
- Engaging – they make things happen, making a difference that can be experienced.
Self Awareness is a component of emotional intelligence. We need to know and be reconciled to our feelings and emotions, capable of admitting them and their consequences and able, in the main, to take appropriate action. Not every person is prepared to recognize and relate to internal feelings of anger, frustration, anxiety, passivity, or similar and so often these conditions are not dealt with constructively. There are a plethora of emotional responses within us all and they have to be managed. Are we truly able to do so?
Passion, until recently, has been a difficult emotion for us to respond to openly. It all started with the Greeks in classical studies where rationality was worshiped as an ultimate standard. The challenge is that passion is the engine for change – it drives it. To be effective, however, it too has to be managed or it’s decidedly uncomfortable. When not managed well, the positive attributes tend to get thrown out with the bath water. How can we harness passion so that we can benefit from the positive effects?
Visionary means that there’s a better condition or outcome in our sights and it’s real enough to be useful. We are sceptical about so-called visionaries as individuals but then we’ll respond positively to a shared vision that emerges through optimistic and constructive effort and exchanges. It’s in the stories we tell ourselves, more so than in the situation perhaps, and stories tend to be personal. The real power of a vision is in those stories we create and share among ourselves. Are you able and willing to contribute in this way?
Other Centred means that you are firstly secure within your self, sufficient to be able to notice and allow others to be present in non-threatening ways. Then, being secure within your self, you can recognize and respond to the value and contribution that others might bring. It isn’t about you, or about them, in this context. It’s about ‘us’, ‘we’, ‘ours’ – the essential framework for collaboration and synergy. How well can you respond to different ideas, strategies and people?
Credibility addresses the essential characteristic of authenticity. It is truly powerful in any leadership situation simply because no one will follow a phony or even anyone he / she is uncertain about. It cannot be contrived though and often it’s difficult to assess both within ourselves and in others. While self insight is a good indicator it isn’t always evident or clear so we’re left with intuition – our ‘gut’ response. Ultimately, if you cannot believe in yourself, why would you expect anyone else to believe in you?
Engaging is at once the most visible characteristic and also the most misleading. So many confidence tricksters have succeeded on this aspect alone. Reaching out to others, accepting input from others, being vulnerable, caring, sensitive and open can all be staged. So how can we determine what is real? Observe consistency and coherence in behaviors over time and across diverse activities; there are simple yet subtle signs and symptoms that can be monitored. Would you be willing to persist in identifying them?
The prevailing situation and circumstances will perhaps cause differences in emphases, but a failing grade in any one of these six attributes will normally disqualify a candidate. There’s also a definite sequential relationship between the six attributes that can be traced as the enquiry unfolds.
The bottom line . . .
Future leaders, those capable of focusing and facilitating transformational change – the kind that shocks, discomforts, initiates resistance and opposition – have credentials that can be identified. We have to know where to look and we need to be diligent in our appraisal.
The picture is complex, challenging to build amongst the ‘noise’ of other demands, but it’s worth pursuing. If we are to generate sufficient real leaders for our uncertain future we must stockpile our resources. The time to act on this is now!
Think about it, please.
I'd welcome your questions, comments and suggestions. We can all learn through dialogue and your experiences will undoubtedly gain more value when shared. Please contact me at david@andros.org.
A Note to our Readers . . .
Previous series of articles on the topics of
- Tomorrow’s Leaders – a model for SME organizations
- The Leadership Crucible – the ‘making’ of leaders
- Leadership Characteristics – a comprehensive catalogue of leader qualities
- Succession Planning – the strategic argument, principles and strategies, and
- Managing Change – every person’s guide to painless processes
have been summarized as discussion guides for those who lead and manage through mentoring and coaching. If you would like to secure a copy for your own use, please contact us.
It is a pleasure to share ideas with you and we’d welcome your questions, suggestions and comments. They’ll assist us refine and expand the essential value of these initiatives. Thanks in anticipation for your participation.
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