Leadership.
Walk through any business section of a book store will amaze you at the tonnage of books related to Leadership, in business. You’ll find texts offering Bill Gates secrets, Bill Russell’s rules, how Jack Welch earned his title, “Neutron Jack”, and Jeff Bezos and the creation of Amazon.com. You’ see books by Maxwell listing his rules for Leaders, by Tom Morris asking. “If Aristotle Ran General Motors and R.J. Cramer, “An examination of traits among leaders and non-leaders.” I don’t know how they manage to keep that page turner on the shelves!
”A leader is defined as one who guides or is command or one in a position of influence or importance.” — Webster’s Dictionary
Recently five professors from the Harvard Business School and a few alumni spent some discussing their ideas and why Leadership is increasingly important.
First lets track the parade of theories that have been tossed around in the past:
The Great Man theory – Sociologist Max Weber, said it’s a mysterious force, charisma, that some are born with.
The Traits theory – might also be called the looking good theory. Certain traits, genes, tall strong and brave make you predisposed to being a leader.
The Behavioral theory – Enter B.F.Skinner and his idea.” Leaders are what Leaders do. These groups suggested forget inner states and traits focus on what can be recorded and measured. They suggested if we can track what others do and copy them, others could be Leaders too.
At most MBA schools they spend a fair amount of time discussing Managing vs. Leading. Many, most almost all invest a serious amount of time on Communication. Some even touch on Aristotle’s Three Rhetorical Elements, purpose, means and style.
Linked to these concepts is simplicity. Can you say it so everyone understands? Add to that knowing your audience and letting communications flow through an open door, rather than forcing them through a wall. In today’s world of instant news and communications listening has never been more important. You need to receive as well as you send. Style needs to have multimodality. This Ph.D concept might be translated, “walk the talk.” A little more than just that, does your behavior, your actions, your decisions communicate what your words do? Another key of Style is Passion, In any real world situation there are false starts, unexpected obstacles, surprising turns along the path; Leaders need to stay the course, carefully pick the issues, not abandon plans, remain committed and focused by setbacks and continually communicate the big picture, Over and over.
The Harvard Business School Professors and Alumni all agreed, the ability to communicate the difficult is the mark of a Leader. Great leadership does not run away from reality. Sharing difficulties can inspire and get others to join in the actions that will make the situation better.
Leadership is many things; most times it’s not an Einsteinian breakthrough. Often leadership is getting two sides cemented in their singular focus to see a third path to solution.
Leaders don’t push, they pull.
They don’t enforce, they inspire.
Leading implies a destination. Leadership attracts followers. Leaders start things.
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