Chapter 1

What is leadership?Leading people, Influencing people, Commanding people, Guiding people

Leadership is one of the most salient aspects of the organizational context. However, defining leadership has been challenging. The following sections discuss several important aspects of leadership including a description of what leadership is and a description of several popular theories and styles of leadership. This page also dives into topics such as the role of emotions and vision, as well leadership effectiveness and performance. Finally, this page discusses leadership in different contexts, how it may differ from related concepts (i.e., management), and some critiques that have been raised about leadership

Leadership versus ManagementOver the years the terms management and leadership have been so closely related that individuals in general think of them as synonymous. However, this is not the case even considering that good managers have leadership skills and vice-versa. With this concept in mind, leadership can be viewed as:

centralized or decentralized broad or focused decision-oriented or morale-centered intrinsic or derived from some authority

Any of the bipolar labels traditionally ascribed to management style could also apply to leadership style. Hersey and Blanchard use this approach: they claim that management merely consists of leadership applied to business situations; or in other words management forms a subset of the broader leadership process. They say: "Leadership occurs any time one attempts to influence the behavior of an individual or group, regardless of the reason. Management is a kind of leadership in which the achievement of organizational goals is paramount." And according to Warren Bennis and Dan Goldsmith, A good manager does things right. A leader does the right things."

However, a clear distinction between management and leadership may nevertheless prove useful. This would allow for

a reciprocal relationship between leadership and management, implying that an effective manager should possess leadership skills, and an effective leader should demonstrate management skills. One clear distinction could provide the following definition:

Management involves power by position. Leadership involves power by influence.

Abraham Zaleznik (1977), for example, delineated differences between leadership and management. He saw leaders as inspiring visionaries concerned about substance while managers he views as planners who have concerns with process. Warren Bennis (1989) further explicated a dichotomy between managers and leaders. He drew twelve distinctions between the two groups:

Managers administer; leaders innovate. Managers ask how and when; leaders ask what and why. Managers focus on systems; leaders focus on people. Managers do things right; leaders do the right things. Managers maintain; leaders develop. Managers rely on control; leaders inspire trust. Managers have short-term perspective; leaders have long-term perspective. Managers accept the status-quo; leaders challenge the status-quo. Managers have an eye on the bottom line; leaders have an eye on the horizon. Managers imitate; leaders originate. Managers emulate the classic good soldier; leaders are their own person. Managers copy; leaders show originality.

Paul Birch (1999) also sees a distinction between leadership and management. He observed that, as a broad generalization, managers concerned themselves with tasks while leaders concerned themselves with people. Birch does not suggest that leaders do not focus on "the task." Indeed, the things that characterise a great leader include the fact that they achieve. Effective leaders create and sustain competitive advantage through the attainment of cost leadership, revenue leadership, time leadership, and market value leadership. Managers typically follow and realize a leader's vision. The difference lies in the leader realising that the achievement of the task comes about through the goodwill and support of others (influence), while the manager may not.

This goodwill and support originates in the leader seeing people as people, not as another resource for deployment in support of "the task". The manager often has the role of organizing resources to get something done. People form one of these resources, and many of the worst managers treat people as just another interchangeable item. A leader has the role of causing others to follow a path he/she has laid out or a vision he/she has articulated in order to achieve a task. Often, people see the task as subordinate to the vision. For instance, an organization might have the overall task of generating profit, but a good leader may see profit as a by-product that flows from whatever aspect of their vision differentiates their company from the competition.

Leadership does not only manifest itself as purely a business phenomenon. Many people can think of an inspiring leader they have encountered who has nothing whatever to do with business: a politician, an officer in the armed forces, a Scout or Guide leader, a teacher, etc. Similarly, management does not occur only as a purely business phenomenon. Again, we can

think of examples of people that we have met who fill the management niche in non-business organisationsNon-business organizations should find it easier to articulate a non-money-driven inspiring vision that will support true leadership. However, often this does not occur.

Differences in the mix of leadership and management can define various management styles. Some management styles tend to de-emphasize leadership. Included in this group one could include participatory management, democratic management, and collaborative management styles. Other management styles, such as authoritarian management, micro-management, and top-down management, depend more on a leader to provide direction. Note, however, that just because an organisation has no single leader giving it direction, does not mean it necessarily has weak leadership. In many cases group leadership (multiple leaders) can prove effective. Having a single leader (as in dictatorship) allows for quick and decisive decision-making when needed as well as when not needed. Group decision-making sometimes earns the derisive label "committee-itis" because of the longer times required to make decisions, but group leadership can bring more expertise, experience, and perspectives through a democratic process.

Patricia Pitcher (1994) has challenged the bifurcation into leaders and managers. She used a factor analysis (in marketing) technique on data collected over 8 years, and concluded that three types of leaders exist, each with very different psychological profiles: Artists (imaginative, inspiring, visionary, entrepreneurial, intuitive, daring, and emotional), Craftsmen (well-balanced, steady, reasonable, sensible, predictable, and trustworthy), Technocrats (cerebral, detail-oriented, fastidious, uncompromising, and hard-headed). She speculates that no one profile offers a preferred leadership style. She claims that if we want to build, we should find an "artist leader" if we want to solidify our position, we should find a "craftsman leader" and if we have an ugly job that needs to get done like downsizing, we should find a "technocratic leader". Pitcher also observed that a balanced leader exhibiting all three sets of traits occurs extremely rarely: she found none in her study.

Bruce Lynn postulates a differentiation between 'Leadership' and ‘Management’ based on perspectives to risk. Specifically,"A Leader optimises upside opportunity; a Manager minimises downside risk." He argues that successful executives need to apply both disciplines in a balance appropriate to the enterprise and its context. Leadership without Management yields steps forward, but as many if not more steps backwards. Management without Leadership avoids any step backwards, but doesn’t move forward.

Managers vs. Leaders: Comparison

Managers

Focus on things

Do things right

Plan

Organize

Direct

Control

Follows the rules

Creates structure

Job descriptions

Staffing

Hierarchy

Delegates

Training

Planning

Budgeting

Sets targets

Establishes detailed steps

Allocates resources

Leaders

Focus on people

Do the right things

Inspire

Influence

Motivate

Build

Empowers people

Controlling

Devises strategy

Sets direction

Creates vision

Organizing

Gets people on board for strategy

Communication

Networks

Motivate

Inspire

Gives sense of accomplishment

A simple comparison showing main differences.

Leadership and ManagementWhat is leadership, and what is the difference between leadership and management?

In a nutshell, the difference between leadership and management is:

Leadership is setting a new direction or vision for a group that they follow, ie: a leader is the spearhead for that new direction

Management controls or directs people/resources in a group according to principles or values that have already been established.

The difference between leadership and management can be illustrated by considering what happens when you have one without the other.

Leadership without management ...sets a direction or vision that others follow, without considering too much how the new direction is going to be achieved. Other people then have to work hard in the trail that is left behind, picking up the pieces and making it work. Eg: in Lord of the Rings, at the council of Elrond, Frodo Baggins rescues the council from conflict by taking responsibility for the quest of destroying the ring - but most of the management of the group comes from others.

Management without leadership...controls resources to maintain the status quo or ensure things happen according to already-established plans. Eg: a referee manages a sports game, but does not usually provide "leadership" because there is no new change, no new direction - the referee is controlling resources to ensure that the laws of the game are followed and status quo is maintained.

Leadership combined with management ...does both - it both sets a new direction and manages the resources to achieve it. Eg: a newly elected president or prime minister.

Some potential confusions...The absence of leadership/management is not to be confused with participatory or facilitative management, which can be a very effective form of leadership.

Also, the absence of leadership should not be confused with the type of leadership that calls for 'no action' to be taken. For example, Gandhi's calls for protests to stop demonstrated great leadership, because taking no action was a new direction for the Indian people at that time.

Symbolic LeadershipWhen a leader acts as a figure-head without setting any direction, technically this is not leadership. However, the figure head may be viewed as a leader. For example, in the UK, the monarch is often viewed as a leader, but actually provides very little leadership (most of the 'leadership' in the UK comes from political figures).

However, if a new group sets a direction of its own accord, it will often express that new direction in the form of a leader. For example, Nelson Mandela was regarded as a great leader even though he was in prison and unable to communicate with his followers! And he had been historically classified as a "terrorist"! Yet his symbolic power grew across the world. This was because he was a symbolic spearhead of the anti-apartheid movement.

However, Nelson Mandela was more than just a symbolic leader. When he was released from prison, he showed great leadership in the statesmanship he showed, and in reaching out a hand of friendship to his oppressors. This landed a double-whammy blow against the apartheid regime, because:

During the period when Nelson Mandela was imprisoned (when his ability to provide personal, direct leadership was limited) he continued to grow in power and influence as the symbolic leader for the anti-apartheid movement.

Following his release from prison, he demonstrated actual leadership.

Leadership and Management Summary

Leadership is about setting a new direction for a group; management is about directing and controlling according to established principles. However, someone can be a symbolic leader if they emerge as the spearhead of a direction the group sets for itself.

The Beginning of the Journey

Give me beauty in the inward soul; may the outward and inward man be at one. — SocratesAnyone can lead, and there is no single chief executive officer: There is a problem ofgetting used to the idea of no single chief, but the passage of time will allay that.— Robert Greenleaf

“What is fundamental to the most effective, results producingleaders that supports their various competencies or styles?” Three patterns becameclear:1. Authenticity:Well-developed self-awareness that openly faces strengths, vulnerabilities,and development challenges.2. Influence: Meaningful communication that connects with people by reminding selfand others what is genuinely important.3. Value Creation: Passion and aspiration to serve multiple constituencies—self, team,organization, world, family, community—to sustain performance and contributionover the long term.Continuing to evaluate and test these emerging principles over the next 18 months, welanded on what we think is an essential definition of personal leadership:Leadership is authentic influence that creates value.The implications of this definition are potentially far-reaching. From this new perspective,leadership is not viewed as hierarchical; it exists everywhere in organizations. The roles ofleadership change, but the core process is the same. Anyone who is authentically influencingto create value is leading. Some may influence and create value through ideas, othersthrough systems, yet others through people, but the essence is the same. Deep from theircore, leaders bring forward their talents, connect with others, and serve multiple constituencies.Reacting to this definition of leadership, John Hetterick, former President of Tonka andCEO of Rollerblade, told me, “This definition of leadership speaks to me. The single biggestperformance issue organizations face is inspiring leadership at all levels.”

The essence of leadership is not giving things or even providing visions. It is offering oneself and one’s spirit.

— Lee Bolman and Terrance Deal

Using this definition, we acknowledge that there are an infinite number of ways to manifestleadership. There are as many styles of leadership as there are leaders. Viewing leadershipfrom this vantage point, we will be exploring three essential questions to enhance our leadershipeffectiveness:

• How can we enhance our authenticity as a leader?• How can we extend the influence we have?• How can we create more value?

Leadership is about our ongoing journey to discover and develop ourpurposeful inner capabilities to make a more positive contribution to the world around us.

Bill George, former Chairman and CEO of Medtronic, shares this view: “As leaders, themore we can unleash our whole capabilities—mind, body, spirit—the more value we cancreate within and outside of our organizations.”

Mastery of Leadership is not merely a function of achieving things. It isprincipally about achieving one thing—consciously making a difference by fully applyingmore of our potential. This does not mean that we only lead from the inside-out. On thecontrary, we lead just as much—and sometimes more—from the outside-in. Leadership involvesa constant dynamic between the inner and the outer. We are emphasizing the insideoutdynamic because too often it is overlooked. We tend to focus too much on the outside.

We are in a continuing flow, a dynamic relationship with ourselves and our constituencies—the marketplace, our customers, our employees, and our personal relationships. Ultimately,we want a balance of leading from the inside-out and the outside-in. Our decisions and actionsare in a dynamic loop from us to others and back again. To practice leadership at thehighest level, we need to take responsibility—personal and social responsibility. We need tobe equally vigilant about the “I” and the “We” of effective leadership. Daniel Goleman’s

work on emotional intelligence precisely identified this inner-outer/outer-inner dynamic asthe two interactive qualities of emotional intelligence: awareness of self and awarenessof others.

The purpose of this book is to help you master seven ways to lead more effectively. I will do this by sharing our* distilled insights from working with thousands of leaders. Although the subsequent chapters will elaborate, there are a few essential themes, which consistentlysurface as we help people to master their leadership effectiveness:

• As the person grows, the leader grows. The missing element in most leadership developmentprograms is actually the “Master Competency” of growing the whole personto grow the whole leader.• Most definitions of leadership need to be balanced from the inside-out, moving fromviewing leadership only in terms of its external manifestations to seeing it also fromits internal source. To balance leading from the inside-out and from the outside-ingets to the essence of genuine leadership development.• Helping leaders to connect with their core talents, core values, and core beliefs iscentral to effective leadership development.• Leaders who learn to bring their core talents, core values, and core purpose to consciousawareness experience dramatic, quantum increases in energy and effectiveness.• Leaders who integrate personal power and results power with relational power acceleratetheir leadership effectiveness.• Leaders who work on achieving congruence—alignment of their real values and theiractions—are more energetic, resilient, effective, and interpersonally connected.• Transforming leadership development programs from a series of fragmented, contentdrivenevents to an integrated, inside-out/outside-in growth process greatly enhancesleadership, team, and organizational excellence.

Kevin Wilde, Chief Learning Officer for General Mills, who was named “CLO of the Year”by Chief Learning Officer magazine, put it this way, “Ultimately, leadership development hasto integrate the depth of the inner self-awareness work with the breadth and complexityof external marketplace and cultural dynamics. Enduring leadership development bringstogether both of these inner and outer realities.”

* Since much of the work we do at LeaderSource and the Executive to Leader Institute involves integrated teamsof coaches working together to impact individual and organizational effectiveness, I cannot accurately writeabout the work without saying “our,” “we,” and so forth.

There is but one cause of human failure and that is a man’s lack of faith in his true Self.— William James

Leadership involves clarifying our inner identity, purpose, and vision so thatour lives thereafter are dedicated to a more conscious, intentional manner of living and leading.This inner mastery directs our diverse intentions and aspirations into a purposeful focus whereincreased effectiveness is a natural result. As we move to a more fulfilled manner of living andleading, a focus on purpose replaces our single-minded focus on external success. However, ourpurpose cannot stay “bottled up” inside; we feel compelled to express it. This purposeful intentionand action serves as the energetic, inspired basis for enhanced leadership effectiveness andachievement. Unfortunately, I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve met with a CEO, businessowner, or corporate executive who had lost connection to this inner core of success.John, a business owner, approached me a while ago. By all external measures he was a great success.He had a thriving business. He recently built a new facility to house his expanding operations.But something was missing. When he sat down with me, he opened up immediately bysaying, “You know, everyone thinks I’m a big success. My neighbors think I’m successful. Myfriends think I’m successful. My family thinks I’m successful. My employees around the globethink I have it all together. But you know what? I’m miserable. I’m unhappy in what I’m doing.My whole life I’ve been just successfully reacting to circumstances. I got my degree and that definedmy first job, and that first job defined my second job, and so on. And before I knew it Ihad this business, a family, and a mortgage. Recently I ‘woke up’ and said to myself, ‘Is thisme? Is this my life, or just a series of circumstances I’ve successfully reacted to?’ I’m not surewhat to do, but I have this sense of urgency that I need to take my life back.”

From a development perspective, many leaders of organizations today are like John. We arelike naturally gifted athletes who have mastered our external performance capabilities buthave neglected the inner dynamics supporting our success and fulfillment. What happens tonatural athletes who become coaches? They often have an extremely difficult and frustratingtime. Why? Most often it is because they have not comprehended from the inside-out howthey became great. As a result, it is challenging to mentor others to greatness, and it isequally challenging to be consciously aware of how to replicate their own success in thefuture. This is why most significant growth and development needs to begin with selfleadership,mastery of oneself.

When we define our identity and purpose only in terms of external results, the circumstancesof our lives define us. In this externally driven state of identity, life is fragile, vulnerable,and at risk. Everything that happens to us defines who we are. We are success. We arefailure. We become our circumstances. Life defines us. Our core identity and passionate

purpose are overshadowed by the events of our lives. Successmay even be present, but mastery has escaped us. Unintentionally,we have chosen to “major” in the “minor” thingsof life. Can we lead when we don’t see beyond the externalcircumstances surrounding us?Bill, a senior executive in a global company based inEurope, was caught in this external trap, but he didn’t know it. His career had been a fastand consistent ascent to the top. He had the “right degree,” his background was with the“right companies,” and his results were always outstanding. However, his single-mindedpursuit of success had great costs. Without intending to, heleft a wide wake of people in his path to success. As a result,he had few close supporters and team morale was low. Atearlier stages in his career, this was not an issue. As he advanced,it became an increasing problem. One day his bossapproached him and said, “Bill, your results are outstanding,but we need more than that. The way you’re getting resultsis starting to diminish your effectiveness here.” Bill wasshocked. A flood of thoughts came to mind: “What do youmean my results are not enough? Since when has my style

been an issue?” Am I missing something here?” Bill’s externally built facade of success wasbeing questioned by his boss and by Bill himself. This jolt was exactly what he needed to fosterhis development to the next level.After a few days, Bill arrived in my office for leadership coaching. The shock of his boss’scomments and his need to reconcile them with his limited self-understanding had put himin a reflective mood. “I’ve been avoiding this. If I’m honest with myself, I know I have to dosome work. Not the type of work I’m accustomed to, but work on me. But I’m totally at aloss. My whole life has been focused on achieving at all costs: getting the grades in school,winning in sports, getting results in business. When I’m faced with changing, doing thingsdifferently, growing . . . whatever you call it, I’m lost. I’m even beginning to wonder what’sreally important to me anymore. My life has been invested in getting results. Now that’s notenough? What do I do?”After a couple of months of intensive work, Bill began to turn his life inside-out. He startedto sort out what was really important to him. He began leading more from his core values.

Try not to become a man of success. Try to become a man of value.— Albert Einstein

For this is the journey that men make: to find themselves. If they fail to do this,it doesn’t matter much what else they find.— James Michener

He built more relationships with people. He started to master the power of inner-driven,purposeful leadership. His team environment responded to his newfound sense of service.His boss, co-workers, friends, and family all felt that something significant, something ofreal substance, had begun.It’s important to note that we didn’t try to change Bill by taking him through some sort of“charm school.” We helped him to wake up. He woke up to his identity. He woke up to theinfluence he was having on people. He woke up to his values and purpose. He woke up tohis vision. He woke up to how others perceived him. This inside-out and outside-in mastery

authentically reconnected him to himself, to others, and to the world around him. It wasthere all the time, but he needed to connect to it. Like Bill, we all fall into a metaphoricalslumber at times. Rarely questioning where we are going and why, we go about our businessand relationships day after day. Unfortunately, it often takes a traumatic event—a death, atermination, a divorce, a disease, or even a global crisis—to bring us out of the depths of ourdeep sleep. But why wait for a shocking wake-up call? Why not make a more consciouschoice to awaken to new potentialities now?

REFLECTIONCONSCIOUS WAKE-UP CALL

Go to your favorite spot to sit. Get comfortable. Close your eyes but don’t liedown. (Remember, this is an awakening exercise, so our goal is to wake up, not tosleep!) Listen to your internal dialogue and chatter: “This is a dumb exercise!”“Why did I buy this book?” “I’m hungry.” “I’m tired.” “I’m worried about . . .”Observe the dialogue in a non-judging way. Don’t mind your thoughts and feelings;just let them be there and pass in and out. Let your thoughts settle down.This will happen naturally in your non-judging state.

Start to listen. Listen for your inner voice, not the one in your head with the dialogueand thoughts. Listen for the one in your gut, the impulse that speaks to youthrough feelings, inspirations, intuitions, and possibilities.From that place, ask questions and listen: “What is really important to me? Is thisthe life I want to live? How do I really want to live my life? What gives passion,meaning, and purpose to my life? How can I make even more of a difference?How can I live connected to these inner values?” Pause deeply. Let the questionsand answers come to you easily and spontaneously.

Some people prefer doing this while listening to gentle music, others while walking;there are many ways to open up to this state. Use whatever way works for youand practice it regularly. There are endless layers to explore. If you’re a bit uncomfortableor embarrassed at first, don’t worry about it. Over time you will settleinto it, and your discomfort will pass.

When was the last time you woke up in the morning feeling thankful, fulfilled, and happy to

be alive? On these days, the sun seemed brighter, your sense of self stronger, your life’s purposeclearer, and your mental and physical energies more abundant. These moments did nothappen by accident. Several aspects of your life “came together.” Your self-recognition, senseof purpose, relationships, career, health, and lifestyle were all “more alive” at these times. As aresult, you found yourself thinking, feeling, leading, and achieving in a more positive and energizingway.

For at least a brief period of time, each of us experiences these masterful moments. How canwe experience them on a more consistent basis? Unfortunately, there is not a simple answer.There are no quick-fix programs in leadership development. Programs that take shortcutsmay get some immediate results by temporarily masking acute symptoms, but the chronicsituation remains. Over time, the person returns to an even more difficult condition.“Quick fixes” may be quick, but they don’t fix anything. The people I’ve worked with overthe years are looking for something more—mastery of excellence over the long haul.These people are not interested in getting “psyched-up” by a motivational speaker; they areinterested in substance, results, process, and research-based solutions. They want to reach adeeper, more comprehensive level to master their lives as a whole.

Knowingly or unknowingly, we attempt to master personal and professional situations accordingto how we interpret our experiences. We filter our experiences through our uniquebelief system and create our personal reality. For instance, if we were in a totally dark room,we could attempt to gain mastery by interpreting it in a variety of ways:

• We could curse the darkness and become very effective at blaming it for all ourproblems;• We could struggle and strain, trying with all our might to force the darkness out ofthe room;• We could accept the darkness as a natural part of our existence and even create an elaboratebelief system around our particular dark experience;• We could pretend the darkness does not exist and maybe even convince ourselves thatthe room is actually full of light;

• Or we could take the advice of people who have been in this room before: “Turn onthe light switch and dispel the darkness.”

Leadership is about lighting the pathways to our growth and development.It is not about ignoring negativity, convincing ourselves it does not exist, or pretendingthings are fine when they are not. Joseph Campbell, inThe Power of Myth, described how effective, heroic peopleacknowledged and faced both the darkness and the light.They learned to acknowledge both realities as part of thewhole. But, as Campbell emphasized, “Although they standat the neutral point between darkness and light, they alwaysleaned into the light.” Leadership will help you to face your toughestchallenges and lean into the light.After years of helping leaders and teams to enhance career, life, and organizational effectiveness,we have identified seven practices for mastery of Leadership from the Inside Out. Thesepractices are not stages of development arranged in a sequential or hierarchical order.Rather, they are an ongoing, interrelated growth process in which the practices are illuminating

one another. When arranged together, we can think of them as an integrated whole,with each practice supporting progress toward a more fulfilling destination: making an enduringdifference from within.Now it’s time to begin our journey. Each of the following chapters offers you pragmatictorches to illuminate your pathways to Leadership from the Inside Out.

Chapter 2

Leading with Awareness & Authenticity

PERSONAL MASTERYI once heard a poignant story about a priest who was confronted by a soldier while he waswalking down a road in pre-revolutionary Russia. The soldier, aiming his rifle at the priest,commanded, “Who are you? Where are you going? Why are you going there?” Unfazed, thepriest calmly replied, “How much do they pay you?” Somewhat surprised, the soldier responded,“Twenty-five kopecks a month.” The priest paused, and in a deeply thoughtfulmanner said, “I have a proposal for you. I’ll pay you fifty kopecks each month if you stop mehere every day and challenge me to respond to those same three questions.”How many of us have a “soldier” confronting us with life’s tough questions, pushing us topause, to examine, and to develop ourselves more thoroughly? If “character is our fate,” asHeraclitus wrote, do we step back often enough both to question and to affirm ourselves inorder to reveal our character? As we lead others and ourselves through tough times, do wedraw on the inner resources of our character, or do we lose ourselves in the pressures of thesituation?

Breaking Free of Self-Limiting Patterns

Joe Cavanaugh, Founder and CEO of Youth Frontiers, in one of his powerful retreats oncharacter development, tells a moving story about Peter, an elementary school student whosuffered burns on 90 percent of his body. Peter’s burns were so severe that his mouth had tobe propped open so it wouldn’t seal shut in the healing process. Splints separated his fingersso his hands wouldn’t become webbed. His eyes were kept open so his eyelids wouldn’t cuthim off from the world permanently. Even after Peter endured one year of rehabilitation andexcruciating pain, his spirit was intact. What was the first thing he did when he could walk?He helped console all the other patients by telling them that they would be all right, thatthey would get through it. His body may have been horribly burned, but his strength ofcharacter was whole.Eventually, Peter had to begin junior high at a school where no one knew him. Imaginegoing to a new school at that age and being horribly disfigured. Imagine what the other kids

would say and how they would react. On his first day in thecafeteria everyone avoided him. They looked at him withhorror and whispered to one another. Kids got up andmoved from tables that were close to him. One student,Laura, had the courage to approach him and to introduceherself. As they talked and ate, she looked into Peter’s eyesand sensed the person beneath the scarred surface. Reading her thoughts, Peter, in his deep,raspy, smoke-damaged voice, said, “Everyone is avoiding me because they don’t know meyet. When they come to know me, they’ll hang out with me. When they get to know the realme inside, they’ll be my friends.” Peter was right. His character was so strong that peopleeventually looked beyond the surface. People loved his spirit and wanted to be his friend.When I consider Peter’s situation, I’m not so sure that I would be able to come through hisexperiences with the same courage. But that’s the beauty of Personal Mastery. Peter was challengedto awaken his extraordinary strength and to walk down his particular path. It was hispath to master, not yours, not mine. Somehow his life had prepared him to walk that path

with dignity. Although usually under less dramatic conditions than Peter’s, each of us ischallenged to master our own unique circumstances. Each of us is being called to lead by authenticallyconnecting our own life experiences, values, and talents to the special circumstances weface. Our ability to rise to the challenge depends on our understanding of our gifts, as well ashow prepared we are to take the journey with grace and contribution.

Integrating all of Life’s Experiences into a Meaningful Context

Personal Mastery is not a simplistic process of merely affirming our strengths while ignoring ourweaknesses. It is, as Carl Jung would explain it, “growth towardwholeness.” It is about acknowledging our talents and strengthswhile facing our underdeveloped, hidden, or shadow sides ofourselves. It is about honestly facing and reconciling all facetsof self. Personal Mastery involves appreciating the rich mixtureof our life experiences and how they dynamically form ourunique existence. Peter Senge, in The Fifth Discipline, wrote,“People with a high level of personal mastery are acutely awareof their ignorance, their incompetence, their growth areas, and they are deeply self-confident.Paradoxical? Only for those who do not see the journey is the reward.”

Courage is the ladder on which all other virtues mount.— Claire Booth Luce

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men, true nobility is being superior to your former self.— Lao Tzu

Research by Lominger International, a Korn/Ferry Company, indicates that defensiveness,arrogance, overdependence on a single skill, key skill deficiencies, lack of composure, andunwillingness to adapt to differences are among the “top ten career stallers and stoppers.”A research study by Kenneth Brousseau, CEO of Decision Dynamics, Gary Hourihan,Chairman of Korn/Ferry’s consulting division, and others, published in the February 2006

edition of the Harvard Business Review, connects the significance of personal growth—anevolving decision-making and leadership style—to leadership and career advancement.This global research, with its extraordinarily high degree of statistical credibility, whichused the Styleviewtsm Decision Styles assessment tool on 180,000 individuals in five levels ofmanagement from entry level to the top, shows that if people don’t develop, they do notadvance.

Deepening Authenticity for Sustainable Leadership

Of all the principles supporting sustainable leadership, authenticity may be the most important.It also can be the most challenging. Most people never realize that it’s an area of theirlives that needs attention. In almost three decades of interacting with thousands of leaders,I’ve yet to meet an executive for coaching who comes to me lamenting, “I’m having realtrouble being authentic.” If authenticity is so important, why don’t we recognize it as an issue?The answer is both simple and profound: We are always authentic to our present state ofdevelopment. We all behave in perfect alignment with our current level of emotional, psychological,and spiritual evolution. All our actions and relationships, as well as the qualityand power of our leadership, accurately express the person we have become. Therefore, weconclude that we are “authentic,” because we are doing the best we can with the informationand experience that we have at this time.There is a big hitch, however. While we are true and authentic to our current state of development,we are inauthentic to our potential state of development. As Shakespeare wrote soeloquently in Hamlet, “We know what we are, but not what we may be.” As humans and asleaders, we have an infinite ability to grow, to be and to become more. Our horizons areunlimited. If there is an end-point to growing in authenticity, I certainly have not seen it.In The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are,

Daniel J. Siegel explains that the mind is shaped continually throughout life by the connectionbetween the neurophysiological processes of the brain and interpersonal relationships.“When we examine what is known about how the mind develops, we can gain

important insights into the ways in which people can continueto grow throughout life.” He goes on to say, “We canuse an understanding of the impact of experience on themind to deepen our grasp of how the past continues toshape present experience and influence future actions.”To deepen authenticity, to nourish leadership from theinside-out, takes time and attention. In today’s world, theamount of distraction and busyness we all experience keeps us from undertaking the inwardjourney and engaging in the quiet reflection required to become more authentic human beings.

By middle life, most of us are accomplished fugitives from ourselves. John Gardenerwrites:

Human beings have always employed an enormous variety of clever devices forrunning away from themselves. We can keep ourselves so busy, fill our lives with somany diversions, stuff our heads with so much knowledge, involve ourselves withso many people and cover so much ground that we never have time to probe thefearful and wonderful world within.

To penetrate the commotion and distraction of our lives, to explore the depths of ourselvesis the prerequisite for self-awareness and authenticity. So what is authenticity? Based on ourexperience coaching leaders over the years, we define authenticity as the continual process ofbuilding self-awareness of our whole person—strengths and limitations. As a result of thisawareness, more often than not, the authentic person’s beliefs, values, principles, and behaviortend to line up. Commonly referred to as “walking the talk,” authenticity also means beingyour talk at a very deep level.

Another prominent feature of highly authentic individuals is openness. Whether they cometo authenticity naturally or work hard to attain it, the most real, genuine, sincere peopletend to be open to both their capabilities and their vulnerabilities. They have an inner

openness with themselves about their strengths as well as their limitations. They know whothey are and don’t apologize for their capabilities. They also have an outer openness withothers about their whole selves. They try neither to cover up their weaknesses nor to “hidetheir light under a bushel.” They have managed to avoid the pitfall that Malcolm Forbeselucidates, “Too many people over-value what they are not and under-value what they are.”Self-compassion, being open and receptive to our vulnerabilities, is an important aspect ofauthenticity.Dig inside. Inside is the fountain of good and it will forever flow if you will forever dig.— Marcus Aurelius

By acknowledging our own vulnerabilities and appreciating our whole selves,we can truly be compassionate to others. As David Whyte, poet and author of The HeartAroused, has written, “We need to learn to love that part of ourselves that limps.”In Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . and Others Don’t, Jim Collins’ researchpoints out the interesting duality in “Level 5 Leaders,” who were both modest andwillful, humble and fearless, vulnerable and strong, interpersonally connected andfocused—in short, leaders we would say “had grown toward wholeness” and authenticity.Their “compelling modesty,” as Collins puts it, their authenticity as we would term it, drawspeople to come together to achieve.

Authentic people—people on the path to personal mastery—value all of who they are.A dual awareness of their own strengths and vulnerabilities allows authentic leaders to focuson the team, organization, and marketplaces, not on themselves. Personal Mastery allows usto transcend our egos and move into authentic service and authentic contribution. As Collinselaborates, “Level 5 leaders channel their ego away from themselves and into the larger goalof building a great company. It’s not that Level 5 Leaders have no ego or self-interest. Indeedthey are incredibly ambitious, but their ambition is first and foremost for the contribution,not for themselves.” Level 5 Leaders—authentic leaders—see their purpose beyond theirlimited selves as passionate instruments of service and contribution. Authentic leaders understandthat if our lives do not stand for something bigger than ourselves, our leadership

lacks purpose. Deepak Chopra wrote:

To be authentic, you have to be everything that you are, omitting nothing. Withineveryone there is light and shadow, good and evil, love and hate. The play of theseopposites is what constantly moves life forward; the river of life expresses itself inall its changes from one opposite to another. As we discover and accept these oppositeswithin ourselves, we are being more authentic.

In Daniel Goleman’s extensive research on emotional intelligence in the workplace, Golemancites self-awareness, “attention to one’s own experience or mindfulness,” as the primarycompetence in his framework for managing ourselves, a prerequisite for managing others. InPrimal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence, he and his co-authors,Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee, assert, “A leader’s self-awareness and ability to accuratelyperceive his performance is as important as the feedback he receives from others.” Theflow of crucial information comes from the inside-out and from the outside-in.

Although the world may be headed toward a time when topdown, authoritarian leadership will be outmoded, I have seen authoritarian leaders with substantial authenticity outperformleaders who strove to be collaborative, yet lacked authenticity. I’ve seen leaders low in charisma and polish get in front of a group and stumble around a bit, but their personal authenticity and substance were so tangibly established that they inspired the group members and movedthem to a new level of excellence. Could such leaders benefit from working on their style of presentation? Certainly. But how much would it really matter, compared with their trust-inspiring authenticity? “The individual who does not embody her messages will eventually be found out,” warns Howard Gardner in Leading Minds.

“Even the inarticulate individual who leads the exemplary life may eventually come to be appreciated.”

Exploring Beliefs

One of the most effective ways to take this journey to a more integrated, complete understandingof ourselves is to explore deeply our personal belief system. Few psychologicaldynamics are as fundamental as our beliefs. Beliefs literally create our reality; they are thelenses or filters through which we interpret the world. Some of these “lenses” focus and openup new horizons; others dim our view and limit possibilities. Beliefs are transformational.Every belief we have transforms our life in either a life-enriching or life-limiting way.

One of the most dramatic examples of the transformational power of beliefs comes fromheavyweight fighter George Foreman. In the 1970s, Foreman was renowned for being one ofthe toughest, nastiest human beings on the planet. Angry and antisocial, he often cameacross as a tough, mean, uncommunicative person, not at all the person you see today. Hewas not known for social graces, self-awareness, or his big smile. Immediately following hissurprising loss to Jimmy Young in Puerto Rico, George went to his dressing room, lay downon the training table, and reportedly had an overwhelming spiritual experience. After thatexperience, George changed. He changed his entire life, everything: his personality, his relationships,his life purpose. He transformed them all into a more life-affirming direction.George peeled the onion of his personality and the delightful, humorous, self-effacing“George” came forward. The important thing to note here is not whether George Foremanactually had a spiritual revelation. Many medical professionals said he suffered from severeheat exhaustion, and that’s what caused his “experience.” That’s not the issue. The key principleis that George Foreman believed he had a spiritual transformation and the beliefchanged his life. What we believe, we become.

What you bring forth out of yourself from the inside will save you. What you do notbring forth out of yourself from the inside will destroy you.

— St. Thomas

Through my years of coaching people, I have observed consistently two distinct types of beliefsystems operating in people: Conscious Beliefs and Shadow Beliefs. Conscious Beliefs arethe explicit, known beliefs we have. When asked about these beliefs about ourselves, aboutother people, or about life in general, we can articulate many of them. Even though it maytake some effort to access and to clarify some of these beliefs, they are accessible to us on aneveryday level. Examples of Conscious Beliefs someone might have are: “I believe in treatingpeople with respect; I fear trying new things; I am creative and resilient; many people areuntrustworthy; hard work brings results.” Although we can access these beliefs on a consciouslevel, this does not mean we are always aware of them. We can, however, becomemore aware of Conscious Beliefs and whether or not we are living in accordance with thesebeliefs.

Recently, we guided the chairman of the board of a fast-growing public company throughthe process of bringing his beliefs into conscious awareness. As a result, the 60-year-oldchairman remarked, “Most people probably think I had this all figured out. What I discoveredis that my beliefs were operating, but not consciously enough. After more than 30 yearsin leadership roles, I realize that unknowingly I’ve been holding back crucial aspects of myself,critical to continued leadership success. Once I saw it in my work, it was easy to see thatI was doing the same thing at home with my family.”

Elena was an executive in a global service firm in the United Kingdom. Her intelligence, energeticwork ethic, results orientation, and excellent relationship skills had supported her patternof success. She prided herself on how connected the people on her team were with her andeach other. In meetings, team members conducted themselves respectfully, and they rarely engagedin conflict. One day during a one-on-one with her boss, Elena was taken aback when herboss said, “Elena, you’ve been on the team for a while now, and you never disagree with me. I

don’t really know if you are really invested in all these new changes we’re making, or if you arejust going along with them. You’re too nice! I need you to step forward more powerfully andchallenge me.” Ingrained in Elena from a young age was the fear of rejection, which operatedwith the belief that being liked and accepted was the only way to really connect with people.Elena’s boss encouraged her to see that speaking up, being more open, is not only more

respectful but also more authentic. After working with Elena for a while, we were able to help her break free of Shadow Beliefs around rejection and see that fostering more opendiscussions, even constructive conflict, surfaces not only unspoken issues but also innovation. As we believe, so shall we lead.

Although we access Conscious Beliefs somewhat easily, Shadow Beliefs are subtler and much more challenging to uncover. Doing so, however, is crucial to high performance. Taken from the Jungian concept of shadow, Shadow Beliefs are those beliefs that are manifestations of hidden, unexplored, or unresolved psychological dynamics. A Shadow Belief is cast when we don’t want to deal with something. When we hold onto a type of “secret,” a lack of awareness, we hold onto a Shadow Beliefwithin us.We all have Shadow Beliefs. If we don’t think we do, then the shadow is probably operating at precisely that moment by obscuring a view of a portion of ourselves. Jeffrey Patnaude,in his work Leading from the Maze, writes, “The leader must be awake and fully alert. Like a nighttime traveler attuned to every sound in the forest, the leader must be aware of all possibilities lurking in the shadows. For we can neither challenge nor transformwhat we cannot see.”

On a personal level, some of my Shadow Beliefs have to do with exceptionally high standardsfor others and myself. From a young age, I evaluated myself by this external, often critical,yardstick. As a result, I developed a series of Shadow Beliefs: “I’m never quite goodenough; I have to work twice as hard to be valued; if something is not exceptional, it is notworthwhile; I am afraid to fail.” As you can see, these beliefs have some value. They have fueleda drive to achieve. On the other hand, some of these same beliefs cast a shadow on mybehavior and relationships at times. However, when I am actively committed to fostering

my awareness of these shadows, I’ve been able to shed some light on them and hopefullyminimize their limiting influence on others and me.

To leave our self-defeating behaviors behind, we must use our conscious minds toundermine the destructive but unconscious beliefs that cause us to defeat ourselves.— Milton Cudney and Robert Hardy

Personality can open doors. Only character can keep them open.— Elmer Letterman

Transforming Shadow Beliefs to Conscious Beliefs is crucial to Personal Mastery. Thisis not to say we don’t struggle continually with them. We do. The difference is weconsciously engage them vs. unconsciously being driven by them. What happens to us ifwe don’t deal with Shadow Beliefs? We pay a high price. Addictive behaviors, difficulty inrelationships, achievement overdrive, imbalanced lifestyles, and health problems can besome of the costs associated with them. Shadow Beliefs are not scary; not dealing withthem is.While I was coaching Steven, the president of a multibillion-dollar international firm based inLatin America, a Shadow Belief that was limiting him surfaced. Let me preface this story by explainingthat Steven was not referred to us because he had any “issues.” He was wildly successfulin his current role. His consumer products firm was number one in revenue and marketshare globally for four consecutive years. In fact, it was his success that was starting to be aproblem for him. He had this nagging anxiety—“Can I continue to top my past achievements?”Each time we would explore future plans, he would conjure up all sorts of disasterscenarios. As I got to know him better, I understood that he had internalized a hidden beliefthat no matter how hard he worked or what he achieved, it could all go away tomorrow. Onone level this Shadow Belief served him well; it gave him the drive to achieve many goals.However, because he wasn’t aware of it, his fear of failure was actually inhibiting him fromrisking new experiences and new learning. It also was squeezing the life out of his team, which

was totally inconsistent with his values and intentions. Finally I asked Steven, “You don’t get it,do you?” Surprised, he looked at me and said, “Get what?” I responded, “Steven, look at yourlife. You succeed in all areas of your life: your career, your family, your relationships. What evidencedo you have that you are going to fail at your next endeavor?” It was a defining momentfor Steven. He saw the shadow and brought it into the light. He moved from trusting his fearto trusting his contributions. He brought a Shadow Belief into the Conscious Belief arena. Beforethat moment he wasn’t aware of its presence. It had been controlling him, and now he wasbeginning to take control of it. A few months later, describing his experience, he said, “Thisone insight has opened a doorway for me. It has given me the peace of mind to trust myselfand to lead from who I am. I now know that no matter what I attempt, I will make it a success,and if not, I will adapt, learn, and somehow make it work.”

In a part of the supervisory training my company conducts, we ask the participants to rate the attributes they most admire in a supervisor or manager. They are asked to choose from a list. In five years we have always had the same result, in spite of surveying hundreds of people. Each time, the group picks ‘trust’ and ‘respect’ as the most important attributes.

It is interesting that ‘like’ is on the list but seldom gets a mention. In discussion, the comment is often made that it is difficult or impossible to impose your will over a group and have them always like you. In fact, if you look around the community at the most successful leaders, some of them are quite obnoxious, but well respected.

A supervisor or manager is responsible for the group first, the individual second. This often causes conflict. Consider the necessity to retrench staff during difficult times. No manager likes to do this, but it is often necessary to keep the business healthy. The individual to be retrenched has to suffer for the good of the group. The consideration of the individual’s needs as secondary to the group’s interest often causes great stress in young or inexperienced leaders. A person who is overly sensitive will often fail to take timely action and will not be a good leader.

So, being liked is not very important — it is very difficult to be liked and make the right decisions for the group. What is important is you must be trusted and respected. You earn trust and respect from being disciplined in the communication process. This means devoting the time to listening equally to all the members of the group and then reacting consistently and with integrity.

Personal integrity is so important in a leader, yet so often lacking in practice. How often do you hear ‘I’ll get back to you’, or ‘I’ll look into it’, or similar platitudes. Consider the leaders around you. Some could say these things and you would know that they mean what they say; you know they will follow through. Others will ring bells in your head as soon as they open their mouths because you know, either because of their body language or because of their track record, that they are unlikely to deliver.

Some leaders find looking somebody in the eye and saying ‘no’ nearly impossible. They ‘tap dance’, using fifty words in a response, losing the message partially or completely in order to avoid a conflict. Usually, this behaviour is a simple lack of assertiveness rather than an intention to deceive, but either way, behaviour like this is viewed negatively.

Another common trap is forgetting your commitments. For example; you are busy with lots on your mind, a staff member stops you and asks you if they can take their holidays in October. You figure October is a long way off so without giving it a second thought you say ‘OK’. The staff member hears this as a promise; you forget. Come October they prepare to exit and you try to renege because you have not planned. They see this as a lack of integrity on your part.

You can be as tough as you like as long as you are fair, consistent and live up to the promises people perceive you to have made. You probably feel you are a good communicator. You probably feel you do not break promises or commitments. You probably feel you listen carefully. Why don’t you ask your staff? If they trust you they will give you an honest answer. If not, they will tell you are wonderful. Few good leaders are wonderful.

Chapter 3

Inside and Out

Leadership Purpose “The quest for leadership is primarily an inner journey to discover our true selves, which includes our strengths, skills, prejudices, and talents, and a recognition of our unique gifts and some of our limitations. This inner adventure can also lead us to a better understanding of what we really care about. Our actions will then be filled with energy, caring, and commitment because we will have discovered our purpose and passion.” - Larraine Matusak, Finding Your Voice

Our leadership purpose serves as our compass as we go about the sometimes rocky, mostly rewarding process of building community. For most of us, it takes deep reflection to uncover the true identity of that purpose. There tends to be a person or an experience that has inspired us to step into a leadership role at a community level. Most of the time, we are also acting on some self-interest–our children’s health, our community’s economic well-being, threats to our local environment, etc. Being clear about our leadership purpose is a source of great energy and commitment. Given that community change is a long, slow process, reminding ourselves of our purpose sustains us and holds our focus. Leading within a community is a complex task which requires clarity of purpose in order not to get involved in so many activities that effectiveness wanes, stress increases and burn-out sets in. Reflection questions:

• What are three experiences, people, books, articles, tapes, movies, sayings, etc. that have had the deepest impact on your leadership philosophy?

• What insight(s) did you gain from each?

• When you think about why you lead (your leadership purpose), what action phrases come to mind?

• Examples: I lead to... inspire; I lead to… learn; I lead to...support.

• Using the action phrases, construct a one sentence statement for each that speaks to your leadership purpose (I lead to__________.)

Leadership Values

“Values are deeply held views of what we find worthwhile. As with all mental models, there’s a distinction between our ‘espoused’ values--which we profess to believe in--and our ‘values in action,’ which actually guide our behavior. These latter values are coded into our brains at such a fundamental level that we can’t easily see them. We rarely bring them to the surface or question them. That’s why they create dissonance for us.” - Charlotte Roberts, Fifth Discipline Fieldbook Our leadership values are displayed in much of what we do. As leaders we strive to act consistently on what it is that we value most. The process of discovering the leader within involves identifying what it is that we stand for. The process of becoming an authentic leader involves the ongoing pursuit of closing the gap between the values we espouse and how well we live them. Whereas community leadership involves working with many different types of people, there are certain values that will be essential to effectiveness. Collaboration, listening, empowerment, shared leadership, inclusivity and democracy are a few values that, when acted upon, build community. It is within this arena of the art of community leadership where I have seen people stumble. One’s bag of tricks is pretty much useless if the values in action are not aligned with the implicit values of the instruments being used. A Future Search will not be effective if the community leader does not authentically and regularly

practice the value of inclusivity. A Teen-Adult Dialogue Night will be less effective if the organizers do not value teenagers as resources. When I speak of community leadership inside and out, I am describing the need for alignment between one’s values and the tools and techniques one uses to build community. As Richard Leider, author of the best-seller The Power of Purpose, points out “integrity is the integration of what one is and what one does.” Reflection Questions:

• What are your top three leadership values?

• Why is each value so important to you?

• For each value you identify, what do you consistently do now in your leadership capacity that demonstrates this value in action?

• For each of the three values, what are two things that you will either continue doing or start doing to more fully express your values in your leadership efforts?

Leadership Talents

“A leader’s job is to duplicate oneself–leaders developing leaders who develop leaders.” Carol McCall in Fifty-Two Reflections for the Leader Within Colleagues and collaborators have very different “requirements” of their leaders today than they did just a decade ago. Today it is not job titles or years of experience that inspire partners and followers. They look for leadership talent. Effective community leaders draw upon their distinct talents. Tapping into their collaborative leadership values, these leaders use their skills to help others discover and use their leadership talents, as well. Doing so creates what I call a communiteam–a high-performing team at a community level.

Reflection Questions:

• What do you believe are your top three leadership talents?

• For each, how have you recently demonstrated that talent?

• What skill area represents your greatest opportunity for growth and development and how might you improve in this area?

• How do/might you use your distinct leadership talents to further develop the leadership skills of others?

Leadership Resources

“Our interconnections manifest themselves constantly. Drug problems have an impact on every taxpayer, as does the cycle of poverty or the number of drive-by shootings by street gangs. Child rearing practices in individual homes ultimately

have a collective impact. The condition of our water, the stand of timber in our forests, the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere all merge together as part of the planetary condition. We are one, and the sooner we move beyond the belief that we are separate, the sooner we will support one another in creative and caring ways.” - Beth Jarman and George Land, Breakpoint and Beyond: Mastering the Future–Today As stated earlier, I believe that community leadership involves weaving together the passions, talents, insights and experiences of a wide-range of people. Part of this process is discovering and tapping into a variety of community and organizational resources. The most effective community leaders think beyond the traditional stakeholders and physical resources (money, buildings, etc.) to build community capacity. They use tradition, ceremony, events of other organizations, underutilized populations such as youths and community elders, even crises, as resources. Effectively utilizing and networking community resources also requires an understanding of the self-interests of others and how they might be used to help meet our own self-interests, and vice versa. In their book, The Quickening of America, my former colleagues Frances Moore Lappé and Paul Martin DuBois propose that two prevailing views of how our “self” relates to “community life” need to be replaced with the concept of Relational Self-Interest–recognizing and tapping into our own interests as they are related to those of others. As George Land and Beth Jarman suggest in the quote above, today’s community problems–violence, homelessness, poverty, environmental devastation, drugs, racism, etc.–are complex and interrelated. They touch us all, so the solutions require leadership that builds relationships that uncover the common ground between us. And the complexity requires numerous, diverse and creative actions that can only come about through collaborative action. Effective community leaders use their purpose, values and skills to work in partnership with others. Reflection Questions:

• Who within your organization or community might have a self-interest in helping you to achieve your vision and objectives? Why?

• Identify at least three resources that you can tap into for each of the following categories:

Others who have similar concerns/visions People or organizations that might be allies if asked Activities and Events that you could become involved with Seemingly negative things that may serve as a resource

• Does your community have a vision of itself in a state of “health?” If not, who might you bring together to try to create this vision and to align resources to achieve it?

Leadership Vision

“Vision is not analytical; it is intuitive. It is knowing ‘in your bones’ what can or must be done. In other words, vision isn’t forecasting the future, it is creating the future by taking action in the present.” - James Collins and Jerry Porras, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

After reflecting on one’s leadership purpose, values, talents and external resources community leaders carefully craft their leadership vision. This vision might well have several dimensions to it. We will want to be clear on what external changes we are striving for (ie- 20% reduction in local teen alcohol and other drug use) and we will want to have clarity on what changes we are looking for in ourself and, possibly, in the coalition of which we are a part. Renowned futurist Avrim King suggests that our daily practices may at times be misaligned with our vision of the future. He points out that many Americans live their day-to-day existence as if Past + Present + Future. Avrim, like James and Jerry suggest in the quote above, challenges people to shift their thinking and “being” so that Past + Future = Present. That is, our past experiences and our vision of the future determine what it is we do today. Effective community leaders live within this paradigm. Reflection Questions:

• Looking three years ahead, what is your vision for...

… yourself? … your organization? … your community?

• How does your vision relate to your Leadership Purpose?

• What Leadership Values will guide you toward achieving your vision?

• How will you use your Leadership Talents to reach your vision?

• What External Resources will you draw upon?

• How will you know when you’ve reached your vision?

Conclusion

Leadership in all arenas of life, including communities, requires an integration of what one expert calls “form and essence.” Author, lecturer and leadership coach Richard Leider speaks of the need for more than tools and techniques–what he calls the “form” side of leadership. He believes that authentic leaders integrate their skills with their “essence”–their leadership purpose, values, and vision. While we expand our community leadership toolboxes with new techniques and activities, we need to also continue to develop the leader within.

Chapter 4

How to become a Good Leader: Taking the LeadThose born under the star sign Leo are said to be born leaders.  Though this may not be entirely true, one thing remains certain: not everybody is born a leader. Yet, everyone seems to want to become one. And, indeed, anyone has the potential to become a good leader.

For many people, becoming a leader is like second nature.  Leadership comes rather naturally for them.  For some, however, it may not be as easy.  Others are forced beyond circumstances to become leaders, and oftentimes, this may require time, patience and determination to learn the craft.

How can one become a good leader? First, one must understand fully what makes a good leader. A good leader has character. A good leader leads an honest life and he is trusted by his people. He leads by example. A good leader is a team-worker. He works together with his people, recognizing their individual strengths and weaknesses. He helps them to grow as individuals and as a group as well. A good leader is charismatic as he is confident.  He believes in himself and knows the extent of his capabilities.

A good leader can inspire others and motivate them into believing in themselves, too. Most often, a good leader is very well-organized. He has specific plans and goals and he works to achieve them one at a time. Even if trials are expected to come along, a good leader is able to handle them perfectly, not finger-pointing a staff for any failure.  Lastly, a good leader is always a positive thinker. There is no room for negativities in leadership. Success is the only word that matters, no more, no less.

Having understood the characteristics that make a good leader, it is now of apparent reason to look at some tips in order for one to learn and master the art of leadership.  First, the would-be leader must know every one of his employees.  Find out details about them.  Get to know your people in a more personal level.  Talk to them as if you are talking to a friend.  This builds a trusting relationship, an important ingredient for one to become an effective leader.  Next, be a good listener.  Do not insist on what you want. Rather, get the consensus of the group you are supervising.  They may have ideas that are much better than yours.  Humble yourself and listen to them.  

Every organization must have a mission and vision.  What is yours? Find them out and live by them. Know your organizational goals fully.  This will help you create a plan for every player in your group. Help your people

achieve their individual goals, as well as the goals of the organization. Never left them alone, hanging, and insecure.  Remember that any fault committed by a subordinate becomes the fault of the leader, too.  So guide your people, and guide them well. Let them feel that they are not alone, yet allow them to be independent at the same time. 

What makes a good leader?The work culture in any company or organization is reflected in the attitudes and behaviors of its leadership towards subordinates. The leadership attitude at the helm of affairs is of great significance and determines the business success of any administration. In large organizations with complex hierarchical structures and numerous tiers of supervisory positions, inter-personal relationships become frequently redefined by constant changes. The desirable qualities of a good supervisor; however, remain intrinsically the same. I will enumerate some of the important qualities essential in a good supervisor or leader in order to be successful in his or her job.

Supervisors by nature of their job position take the role of people managers. They must assume the mantle of a team leader rather than that of a taskmaster. In order to earn the respect and admiration of their subordinates, supervisors must possess and display role model behavior worthy of emulation. To inspire others with lofty ideals, one must exemplify it. The Supervisor must practice work place ethics, set the minimum standards of expectations high for self and others, and consistently meet those expectations. "Practice what you preach," and leading by example may be daunting tasks, but reap great dividends for those who apply it sincerely. When workers realize these qualities exemplified in work styles of their supervisors, they are likely to become inspired and emulate it. Needless to say, the overall effect will be salubrious for the entire organization.

A good supervisor not only appreciates people for their efforts and successes, but will identify deficiencies, and assists in resolving them. They must through good coaching skills be able to improve work performance of their workers. One of the most important qualities that distinguish better supervisors from the rest is valuing employees as vital assets. This is a core value which is dear to many successful companies around the world. Human dignity must be regarded with respect. A compassionate boss who treats his subordinates with dignity will be deeply admired, loved and respected. In fact some companies use this rather unscrupulously in their strategic goals.

I worked in a major oil company for nearly 8 years, and during that period worked with several supervisors. Some of them happened to be my peers. Although, it would be judgmental on my part to venture any comment regarding their managerial abilities, I found that some indeed had

very good qualities. There were few others who were known to be hard task masters, authoritarian and at times were supercilious in demeanor not desirable traits. I remember one supervisor who was so popular with his workers, that they missed him, when he transferred to another location. One of the qualities evident in this supervisor was that he consistently demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills. He was easily accessible to his workers, and perceptive to their needs. He trusted and delegated a lot of responsibility to his subordinates, while maintaining accountability for their actions. Many other supervisors regarded this as a somewhat high risk behavior. The trust that he reposed in his subordinates made them feel empowered to make decisions in their job tasks. They assumed proactive behaviors towards work, and this facilitated a positive attitude, leadership and greater confidence in the employees. It was a rewarding experience for them, working for such a supervisor. Understandably, they were quite disappointed by his absence.

Merely believing the right things is not enough; one must also do the right things to be successful. A boss who can make his employees work efficiently, and yet at the same time make their work a rewarding experience, will lead a successful company. A harmonious and well balanced interpersonal relationship between a supervisor and employee is essential to success. A supervisor who has these qualities will make a positive difference.

According to the wisdom of Chinese philosopher Confucius, the best leaders are often the most reluctant. In other words, too much ambition can get in the way of good leadership. Humility is a key component in effective leadership - whether applied to the arena of politics, the corporate world or the role of the head of a family, an overblown ego gets in its own way and everyone else's.

The best leaders know when to put on the brakes, when to stand back and let others make decisions and receive glory, when to say less and listen more, when to rule rather than govern. Micromanagement breeds contempt, and a truly great leader is one who effectively empowers others. An overly controlling nature makes for bad management. Yet, a good leader must also know when to assert authority and "take charge" even if only as a

last resort. The true meaning of authority is "to serve." A successful leader is one who effectively serves the needs of others, whether it be the needs of a Nation, a corporate body or a family unit.

In the Western world, there is a tendency to confuse power with force; accomplishment with busy-work. We often forget that less is often more, and leadership often justifies itself more by what it doesn't do than by pushing its weight around. A strong leader knows that it is often better to be on "stand-by" and be a good listener, than to rush around trying to prove a point and overshooting the goals of a group.

An effective leader does not aim to make others dependent, but encourages and motivates others towards greater autonomy. Strong nations, households and businesses are built when the individuals within have cultivated a wholesome sense of self confidence. A truly great leader knows how to inspire others to their own greatness.

All too often, when a new politician or other official gets elected, the first thing he sets about doing is to make himself look busy and indispensable to justify his salary and position. This often results in unnecessary, confusing and complicated change to the structure or system he was appointed to steward. The best leader knows the adage "If it doesn't need fixing, don't fix it!" More legislation does not make for less crime; more busywork does not make for better accomplished goals. So often, the best a good leader can do is to trim an already over-bloated body politic, or to simply stand back and grace his subjects with some breathing space to assess their own dilemma (assuming there is a problem!). More often than not, the problem is with an overbearing system of governance that has discouraged its public from thinking for themselves!

Which brings us to another important asset of a good leader: self-confidence! It is self-confidence that truly rules, not merely governs. A confident leader inspires others to be confident in themselves. Insecurity is all too often played out by a bloated need to assert control over others for control's sake. Despite the outward displays of power, people will sense that insecurity in a leader and eventually respond with resentment, rebellion and confusion.

Most importantly, a good leader is a "peacemaker." A peacemaker knows how to exude calm when calm is needed; knows how to nurture and soothe relations between others and is a catalyst for trust. A good leader doesn't resort to mud-slinging or slander as a cheap campaign tactic, but acts with honor and dignity in any conflict, setting an example for others to do the same. That is the kind of leader that can truly be looked up to!

“Wanting to lead and believing that you can lead are only the departure points on the path to leadership. Leadership is an art, a performing art. And in the art of leadership, the artist’s instrument is the self. The mastery of the art of leadership comes with the mastery of the self. Ultimately, leadership development is a process of self-development.” - James Kouzes and Barry Posner, The Leadership Challenge Effective community leaders rely on a blend of tools and personal skills. A community leader’s “tool box” can now contain some truly remarkable resources—instruments for assessing community assets, techniques for stimulating learning communities, teen-adult dialogue nights, and processes for involving hundreds of people in determining key indicators of their community’s health. However, the effectiveness of these tools will be determined by the breadth and depth of the personal skills of the leader(s). In the case of community leadership–which I define as “the active process of weaving together the passions, talents, insights and experiences of a wide-range of people to create healthier communities”– there are five major leadership assets that one might identify and continuously develop. They are our leadership purpose, values, talents, vision and links to external resources.

Leadership QualitiesLeadership is nothing but the quality which makes a person stands out different from other ordinary employees. It is associated with such a person who has aggressiveness in speech and action, love for the employees, and who can handle pressure under different circumstances and a person who is always ready to fight for the rights of employee. A leader is useless without followers. It is the followers who make a person as a leader and if required overthrow him. Leaders play a critical role during change implementation, the period from the announcement of change through the installation of the change. During this middle period the organization is the most unstable, characterized by confusion, fear, loss of direction, reduced productivity, and lack of clarity about direction and mandate. It can be a period of emotionalism, with employees grieving for what is lost, and initially unable to look to the future.

In addition to forecast and amiability, the characteristics that leader must have are ability to recognize employees' talents, the know-how to make teams work and an open mind.

Leadership does vary to some extent as per the positions i.e. it may be slight different for manager and different for a union leader but the basic qualities of leadership does not change.

8 Qualities Defined

1. Good communication skill Communication is the key to be a great leader. The reason for this is simple: if he possesses the other nine leadership qualities but if he fails to communicate well, he will never be great leader.

What he can do is communicate with others in the organization about what IT can do to move the company forward. In other words, good communication is the key for developing good business relationships. If he can’t establish a good business working relationship, he is not going to be that leader, that team player. He will not be able to communicate how IT can add long-term value to the company. The modern leaders must therefore be equipped with good communication skill and use new ways to do effective communication.

2. Honesty The most valuable asset of a leader is honesty. He must be honest with both his employees and the management committee. Another part of his features is integrity. Once a leader compromises his or her integrity, it is lost. That is perhaps the reason integrity is considered the most admirable trait. The leaders therefore must keep it "above all else."

3. Visionary outlook Leadership qualities are different for different position. For a CIO he must be thinking for stabilizing the current business and always looking for future scope of expansion. He has to be able to look beyond where we are today, know where the business is going, and be able to use that vision to move the company forward. Being able to do this is a rare skill indeed.

4. Selecting a good team A good CIO although he possesses sound technical skills he assures that the team he selects is efficient enough to back up any skill he lacks. Choosing the best people for such team is a skill. A CIO after all is a human being and does not have answer for everything. But by working together he creates an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect; the team then always find the best solution.

5.Action speaks louder than words Managers must be able to put aside their concerns to listen to (and appear to listen to) those around them. As a result, they come know what is going on, and know what is both said, and said between the lines. They have the knack of appearing to know what people need even if those needs are not expressed directly. However, knowing what is going on, and identifying the needs of those around them is not sufficient. The responsive manager also acts upon that knowledge, attempting to help fulfill the needs of employees, superiors, etc. Responsive managers wield influence to solve problems for

those around them, often before even being asked.

6. Ability to motivate people around A good leader must always keep motivating his team mates for good work and should maintain healthy environment. He must give first priority to safety of workers and see that they are not exploited by superiors.

7. Consistency Leadership effectiveness is impossible without consistency. Every leader has an approach that is unique to them. Don't change your personal style radically after all; it got you in a leadership position. Modify the rough spots but take care not to confound your staff by displaying inconsistency. Your expectations, though subject to modification based on ever-changing business needs, should remain as constant as possible. The business world is confusing enough without you adding unwelcome surprises into the mix. Keep things simple and consistent.

8. Ability to stand against critics As the success rate increases your critics multiply and become louder. Come to peace with the fact that you will always have a camp of people who critique every decision you make. They are generally the ones who are excellent problem-identifiers rather than problem-solvers. Develop your skills of repelling such critics so that they do not diminish your confidence or enthusiasm.

It takes focus and confidence not to be adversely affected by criticism. Strong leaders learn the art of listening to critics, but ultimately making decisions for the good of the department, not to simply please the critics. The following quote sums it up nicely: "Some of the most talented people are terrible leaders because they have a crippling need to be loved by everyone." As rightly stated by James Schorr.

The Top 10 Leadership Qualities

A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. But it’s not enough to have a vision; leaders must also share it and act upon it. Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., said, "Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion."

A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it. He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious.

A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer “analysis paralysis” but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision, inspiring others to do the same.

Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.

Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more approachable by followers.

Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs on the team, only opportunities to achieve something great.

Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due. A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible throughout the company. Conversely, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures. This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other people feel good about themselves and draws the team closer together. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.

Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a god. Mahatma Gandhi is a role model for Indian leaders, and he pursued a “follower-centric” leadership role.

Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further

its vision.

Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new directions. The most important question that a leader can ask is, “What if … ?” Possibly the worst thing a leader can say is, “I know this is a dumb question ... ”

Fairness means dealing with others consistently and justly. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete evidence. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they reward a leader with loyalty and dedication.

Assertiveness is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings. A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their leader.

Many leaders have difficulty striking the right amount of assertiveness, according to a study in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, published by the APA (American Psychological Association). It seems that being underassertive or overassertive may be the most common weakness among aspiring leaders.

A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers. Humor is a form of power that provides some control over the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie.

Intrinsic traits such as intelligence, good looks, height and so on are not necessary to become a leader. Anyone can cultivate the proper leadership traits.

What is the Role of Leadership?

You may have the following questions about your peer leaders.

What do long-term school reform leaders view as their essential professional competencies?

What do they see as their role in sustaining reform? How do they engage teachers, families, and communities in

partnerships that build programs to help children meet challenging standards?

How do such leaders know when they are doing a good job?

Dimensions of Sustaining Leadership

Partnership and voice Vision and values Knowledge and daring Savvy and persistence Personal qualities (passion, humor, and empathy strength of

character, general maturity, patience, wisdom, common sense, trustworthiness, reliability, creativity, sensitivity)

Indispensable Qualities of a Leader1. CharacterBe a piece of the Rock

Adversity pushes a leader to make a choice. Your choices are based on your values.

You need to walk your talk. Do your actions match your words?

Character is a choice. We choose the manner and attitude we have when faced with a challenge.

Weak character symptoms are arrogance, aloneness, recklessness, and fornication.

A person with character does not compromise.

Face the music and apologize sincerely to those whom you have wronged.

Rebuild your character after facing up to your past actions.

2. Commitment Commitment is what separates the doers from the dreamers. The only real

measure of commitment is action. Commitment opens doors to achievement that otherwise would have remained closed.

When it comes to commitment there are people without any goals and who do not commit. The ones who are afraid to commit. The ones who start toward a goal but quit when the going gets tough. The all-outs are the people who set goals, commit to them, and pay the price to reach them.

Measure your commitment by spending a few hours figuring out where your money, time, and energy go everyday.

Another way to get committed to your goals is to make your plans public and then you will be more compelled to follow through with them.

3. Communication Communication is key to good leadership. Good communicators can take a

complex message and simplify it for everyone to understand. People need to connect to you, and along with charisma, communication is the most powerful weapon a leader can have.

Simplify your message. Study your audience. Let yourself be fired up with conviction and seek a response.

Examine a memo or letter you have written recently. Were you clear as a bell?

Were you direct and simple or did you use all kinds of superfluous words? If you can say it all in one line, do so.

Refocus your attention to the people you need to communicate to. Meet them where they are, and think about how it is to be in their shoes.

4. Competence To cultivate quality, the first thing you need to do is become more

responsible.

This means showing up when you’re expected, and regardless of how you feel that day.

Devote yourself to continuous improvement. The person who knows how will always have a job, but the person who knows why will always be the boss.

Choose to perform at a consistently high level of excellence.

Go the extra mile.

Inspire others to do more and take the organization to new levels of excellence.

Never be satisfied with good enough.

Don’t just make things happen, make things happen when they really count.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

Redefine the standards and demand more of yourself.

Find 3 things you can do to improve your professional skills and dedicate the time and money to follow through.

5. Courage Courage is doing what you are afraid to do.

Courage is standing for what you feel is right, even when all around you are opposed.

Courage is contagious.

Courage in leadership compels people to do the right thing.

Your life expands in proportion to your courage. Fear limits a leader.

Get out of your comfort zone and take risks.

6. Initiative Good leaders know what they want. They don’t wait for others to act.

Good leaders push themselves to act and find their own motivation.

Good leaders take more risks. They know the biggest risk of all is inaction.

Good leaders make more mistakes. They fail forward.

To cultivate your initiative, change your mind-set.

Don’t wait for opportunity to knock, you have to go out and look for it.

Take the next step and don’t stop until you’ve done everything you can to make it happen.

7.Develop Yourself

Be Initiative

Develop listening skills

Be a problem solver

Develop good relationships with everyone

Have self-discipline

Challenge your excuses

Be teachable

Pay the price for success

Swallow your pride!

8. Passion Passion is the first step to achievement. A great desire brings great results.

Passion increases your willpower. If you want something badly enough, you will find the willpower to achieve it.

Passion changes you. You become a more productive, dedicated person once you’ve found your true passion.

Passion makes the impossible possible. A leader with passion and skill will go very far and achieve big things.

How passionate are you about your life and work?

Return to your first love. Maybe you’ve gone a bit off track and need to refocus.

What activity as a child did you find yourself so absorbed in, hour after hour?

Associate with people of passion, it is contagious. Schedule time with them so they can infect you with it.

9. Positive attitude It took Thomas Edison ten thousand tries to find the right materials for the

incandescent light bulb, but he didn’t see them as failures. Maintain a positive attitude if you want to achieve great things.

Your attitude is a choice.

Your attitude determines your actions.

Your people are a mirror of your attitude.

Maintaining a good attitude is easier than regaining one.

Feed on positive and motivational material. Read books and listen to motivational tapes. Become a more positive thinker.

Achieve a goal every day. Make small steps towards your big goal and this will foster a positive attitude in you, naturally.

Write it on your wall. Put it where you can see it everyday.

10. Do it! Now!!!

Chapter 6

Identifying a Leader

Ten Ways to Identify a Promising Person

The most gifted athletes rarely make good coaches. The best violinist will not necessarily make the best conductor. Nor will the best teacher necessarily make the best head of the department.

So it's critical to distinguish between the skill of performance and the skill of leading the performance, two entirely different skills.

It's also important to determine whether a person is capable of learning leadership. The natural leader will stand out. The trick is identifying those who are capable of learning leadership over time.

Here are several traits to help identify whether someone is capable of learning to lead.

Leadership in the past. The best predictor of the future is the past. When I was in business, I took note of any worker who told me he was superintendent of a school or a deacon in his church or a Boy Scout leader. If he showed leadership outside of the job, I wanted to find out if he had some leadership potential on the job.

The capacity to create or catch vision. When I talk to people about the future, I want their eyes to light up. I want them to ask the right questions about what I'm talking about.

The founder of Jefferson Standard built a successful insurance company from scratch. He assembled some of the greatest insurance people by simply asking, "Why don't you come and help me build something great?"

A person who doesn't feel the thrill of challenge is not a potential leader.

A constructive spirit of discontent. Some people would call this criticism, but there's a big difference in being constructively discontent and being critical. If somebody says, "There's got to be a better way to do this," I see if there's leadership potential by asking, "Have you ever thought about what that better way might be?" If he says no, he is being critical, not constructive. But if he says yes, he's challenged by a constructive spirit of discontent. That's the unscratchable itch. It is always in the leader.

People locked in the status quo are not leaders. I ask of a potential leader, Does this person believe there is always a better way to do something?

Practical ideas. Highly original people are often not good leaders because they are unable to judge their output; they need somebody else to say, "This will work" or "This won't."

Brainstorming is not a particularly helpful practice in leadership, because ideas need to stay practical. Not everybody with practical ideas is a leader, of course, but leaders seem to be able to identify which ideas are practical and which aren't.

A willingness to take responsibility. One night at the end of the second shift, I walked out of the plant and passed the porter. As head of operations, I had started my day at the beginning of the first shift. The porter said, "Mr. Smith, I sure wish I had your pay, but I don't want your worry." He equated responsibility and worry. He wanted to be able to drop his responsibility when he walked out the door and not carry it home. That's understandable, but it's not a trait in potential leaders. I thought about the porter's comment driving home. If the vice-president and the porter were paid the same money, I'd still want to be vice-president. Carrying responsibility doesn't intimidate me, because the joy of accomplishment-the vicarious feeling of contributing to other people-is what leadership is all about.

A completion factor. I might test somebody's commitment by putting him or her on a task force. I'd find a problem that needs solving and assemble a group of people whose normal responsibilities don't include tackling that problem. The person who grabs hold of the problem and won't let go, like a dog with a bone, has leadership potential. This quality is critical in leaders, for there will be times when nothing but one's iron will says, "Keep going." Dale Carnegie used to say, "I know men in the ranks who will not stay in the ranks. Why? Because they have the ability to get things done." In the military, it is called "completed staff work." With potential leaders, when the work comes in, it's complete. The half-cooked meal isn't good enough.

Mental toughness. No one can lead without being criticized or without facing discouragement. A potential leader needs a mental toughness. I don't want a mean leader; I want a tough-minded leader who sees things as they are and will pay the price. Leadership creates a certain separation from one's peers. The separation comes from carrying responsibility that only you can carry. Years ago, I spoke to a group of presidents in Columbus, Ohio, about loneliness in leadership. One participant, president of an architectural firm, came up afterward and said, "You've solved my problem." "What's your problem?" I asked. "My organization's always confused," he said, "and I didn't know why. It's because I don't like to be lonely; I've got to talk about my ideas to the rest of the company. But they never know which ones will work, so

everybody who likes my idea jumps to work on it. Those who don't, work against it. Employees are going backward and forward-when the idea may not even come about at all." Fearing loneliness, this president was not able to keep his ideas to himself until they were better formulated. A leader must be able to keep his or her own counsel until the proper time.

Peer respect. Peer respect doesn't reveal ability, but it can show character and personality. Trammell Crow, one of the world's most successful real estate brokers, said that he looks for people whose associates want them to succeed. He said, "It's tough enough to succeed when everybody wants you to succeed. People who don't want you to succeed are like weights in your running shoes." Maxey Jarmen used to say, "It isn't important that people like you. It's important that they respect you. They may like you but not follow you. If they respect you, they'll follow you, even if perhaps they don't like you."

Family respect. I also look at the family of a potential leader: Do they respect him or her? Fifteen years ago, my daughter said, "Dad, one thing I appreciate is that after you speak and I walk up, you are always attentive to me. You seem proud of me." That meant a lot to me. If respect isn't there, that's also visible. The family's feelings toward someone reveal much about his or her potential to lead.

A quality that makes people listen to them. Potential leaders have a "holding court" quality about them. When they speak, people listen. Other people may talk a great deal, but nobody listens to them. They're making a speech; they're not giving leadership. I take notice of people to whom others listen.

It's not enough for people to have leadership potential; they must have character and the right setting in which to grow. Before I give someone significant leadership responsibilities, I find it helpful to ask myself several questions:

What will this person do to be liked? It's nice to be liked, but as a leader it cannot be the controlling factor. The cause must be the prime motivator.

Does this person have a destructive weakness? There are only two things I need to know about myself: my constructive strength and any destructive weakness. A destructive weakness may not show up on a test; it's a character flaw. A destructive weakness may, for example, be an obsession. An obsession controls us; we don't control it. It only grows worse over time.

Can I provide this person the environment to succeed? It is so important, particularly in the early days of someone's leadership, that he or she be put into a congenial environment. I wouldn't want, for example, to put someone who requires mentoring with a leader who

pays no attention to people. An environment that threatens our sense of security or well-being splits our concentration from the cause. Young leaders need an environment in which they can concentrate on leading.

References:Books:

Fred Smith, LEADERSHIP JOURNAL; Fall 1996, Vol. XVII, No. 4, Page 30

Leadership, From Inside Out By Kevin Cashmsn

Websites:

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