It's not really about the products made, the technology developed or the financial instruments that are bought and sold. It's all about the people. A leader must have deep capabilities in the "solutions business," charting a course around and through the obstacles ahead to reach the desired goals.
For Peter Drucker, leadership is about communicating with people, uniting them behind a shared mission and values, and mobilising energies toward accomplishing the mission or purpose of an organisation. An effective leader leads followers with dignity, and inspires them toward achievement. That means that leadership is a means to an end - the mission it serves is the end.
Leaders must learn from failure, thrive on competition, work hard, and radiate hope. They are flexible, adaptable and open to feedback, while believing strongly in the journey that they remain determined and confident. No matter what technical competencies are required, the people part of leadership is the singular, foundational principle.
Leadership requires followership. To create followership, leaders must meet people where they are. To lead is to make an emotional connection on a very real and human level in every interaction. Leaders commit to meeting the needs of those who follow. With grace, dignity and restraint, effective leaders always focus on the other person.
What matters most is not what the leader accomplishes but what others achieve.
How does a leader commit to this journey and engage others? The answer lies in the ‘Absolutes of Leadership’. Tried and true, the absolutes are the building blocks that must be present, regardless of one's own leadership style or approach.
At first glance, these elements may seem simple. It is incredibly difficult, however, to do them completely and consistently. There is far more complexity here than meets the eye.
As a leader, coaching is essentially about "asking” or “inquiring”…
So to succeed, you too must be a leader who acts like a coach by;
- creating an enthusiastic environment in which everyone wants to engage,
- celebrate creativity and risk taking,
- establish a culture of teamwork and trust,
- make people believe in themselves, in their team and in the business or organisation.
Just like coaches, true leaders are not just interested in winning. They know that the proverbial journey is far more important than reaching the destination.
It's getting there through the efforts of the entire team.
Reference: Burnison, Gary, “The Twelve Absolutes of Leadership” and Coach2Coach e-newsletter, April 21, 2012.
