Leadership Development
"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." – Warren Bennis
“Leadership is influence and if you're not influencing anybody, it doesn't matter if you think you're the leader – you're not” – Rick Warren
“A leader knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” – John Maxwell
If I think of good leadership, there are a few qualities that come to mind. The top three qualities of a good leader for me is:
Faithfulness
Available
Teachable
Is it not wonderful if someone is reliable? How great is it when someone does what they say they were going to do? These days, I have come to find, that talk is cheap. So many of us over promise and under deliver. Why do we do this? Do we want to impress people with our big words? Unfortunately, if those big words don't end in big actions, they will fail us.
That is why the first quality of a good leader for me, is faithfulness. This is leadership by actions in its essence.
Availability goes hand-in-hand with faithfulness. You cannot be ready or commit to do something for someone, if you are not available to them. Don't say that you are "always there to help", if you are always busy and can find a reason not to help or assist, by stating how busy you are etc.
Finally, the last one teachability. Another word for teachability is humility.
This is a posture of saying "I don't know" or "I was actually wrong and your way was better." Having a posture of teachability or an open mindset, knowing that your way is not the only way will create a safe workspace for colleagues. This will allow for creativity and freedom, allowing colleagues share ideas. Those sharing will feel heard, and that no idea is a bad idea. Sharing and brainstorming will become the culture of the organization or business.
Dictators are not teachable, their way is the only way, and that is why creativity and freedom wilt in its presence.
Now the question remains: “How do I develop a leader within my company/organisation?”.
I have some suggestions or steps for this:
1. Identify correctly. A nice guy, or girl, is not enough to determine if they can and will lead. Some people are better followers than leaders, and they also have a crucial part to play in organisations. Some are better cheerleaders, and some are better leaders – important distinction.
2. Commit to the process. It is not just about the individual who needs to make the step-up, but also the person who will guide them in this process of development. The next Leader, is only as good as it’s Leader who showed the way.
3. Spend the necessary time. The more you put in, the more you will get out. Sounds simple, but that does not make it easy. By committing time and effort to a person who needs wisdom and experience to be imparted unto them, will reap fruits in future.
4. Walk the talk. Actions speak louder than words. If people see that you do what you say you are going to do, there is already way more credibility established and linked to your words. If you say you will show up, show up. If you book time with a fellow employee, honour that meeting and time, the same way (dare I even say) more than you would with a client/executive.
5. Listen. Listen to what your future leaders have to say. See if they grasp what is being deposited into them by point 2 & 3.
6. Remain teachable. Always be open to learn, see things in a new way. Be open to a suggestion/view point, that is potentially better in the long run, more efficient and less time consuming that you age-old approach from 10 years ago.
May we be people who are reliable, ready and available to help and who thrive on a creative, team focussed and humble environment- and be involved in creating it, by being active leaders.
For more information or assistance with your leadership development contact AJ Meyer @ ajmeyer@grokon.biz.
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