Understand The Role You Play In Leadership

Good article. Many managers consider themselves a leader but really they are not. I think the bit around "inspiration of others" is the major differentiator.
Another aspect of leadership is keeping the right balance between risk and reward when making directional decisions.

Let us put it this way:
There are many right answers,best is one your instinct tells you, but after you have slept over for at least one night after assimilating all available information.

Excellent article, thanks for posting it.

Thanks, very good article.

Leaders are so blessed when they develop the positive behaviors of asking questions, inviting comments and listening to opinions. Being aware of possibilities and discerning the correct way forward demands a keen sense of knowing how to access all the developing knowledge and information available to them. One of the primary sources of growth for a leader lies in respecting and communicating with their primary 'appreciating asset' - their people. Thanks for the article.
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Hi Lisa,

On the micro-level I agree with your premise. However, leaders I believe have a vision (as you pointed out in your first bullet) that becomes their North star. So in that sense know the best direction, however, what decisions we make as part of getting to our ideal destination aren't as clear. So there are a lot of course corrections.

Alex

I agree with the article and not 100% with the comment "there are many right answers" left by Harmohan. There are no right answer, just a list of cause and effects from making a choice (or choosing to not make one). In essence, a Leader will choose one that he/she can foresee the outcome and be able to use it to align his/her overall strategy. Each choice brings about disadvantages and shortcomings of varying levels. However, these are not negative but rather constraints.

Yet, what if one of the Leader's strength is actually the major weakness of a chosen path?? Then this choice, which is a prohibitive path for other Leaders (barrier to entry) becomes a preferrable choice for this one.

All I am saying is that there are no right answers: just a choice with which consequences can either play in your favor - your strategy, or against it. Good Leaders make the choice with foresight; Poor Leaders don't...

Anyone can be a leader but not all can lead. It is sometimes said that to be a great leader you need a crystal ball, I do not believe this to be the case. Great leaders will inspire men to follow on their every whim, they will not only state how they are going to get where they need to get to; they will actually do it. Great leaders hold themselves accountable for their own failings and failings of the team, but more so they deliver a strategy to mitigate failings as a collective by leading from the front.

Understanding the need of the end result, allows the leader to deliver through utilization of the resources around him or her to provide success. Calling oneself a leader and acting in a figurehead capacity only, is not the trait of a great leader.

Warren Buffet is famous for many things however, it is true to say he is the master of utilizing the resources available to him, he has never in his whole career given a direct instruction to anyone. WB explains his theory, and people listen, digest and act.

This is the trait of a great leader.

If in how not to lead one of the 'not' that stands out is disempowerment - that is failure to empower staff to engage in a conversation - to recognise applying to the skill set strengthens the connections on synergies to achieve best possible outcomes serving the interests of all stakeholders. Neutralising risk = risk mitigated and the reward on attendance small change can make a big difference is achievable.

Some lessons I've learned:
not to yell at employees;
don't demand that someone does something and two days later get angry that they did what you asked;
not to micromanage;
not to be arrogant;
not to be unethical;
not to treat employees as if they're incompetent and stupid; and
not to jump to conclusions without ever finding out the truth and making rash decisions as a result.

A strong leader leads by persuasion, convincingly and through engagement. Not through oppression of opinion, creativity and with total disregard for the individual's own need for fulfillment. The best leaders I have had nurtured trust and respect as the foundation of their relationship. Scrutiny and mistrust are the fastest way to fracture your team. Hope that helps!

A leader has to be able to "get the ball rolling". There is nothing more counter-productive than a "leader" that shoots down ideas at the outset of a project. I recognize that not all ideas are good ideas. Rather, many ideas simply cannot work and therefore, must be re-worked or dismissed. However, oftentimes egos or insecurities limit the willingness of group members to speak freely. A leader must promote a positive, safe environment for his/her employees. Therefore, at the outset of a meeting it is important to make everyone feel valued and encourage them to speak up. A leader should open each meeting with a casual, judgement-free discussion about the project at hand. Group members should be able to introduce out-of-the-box ideas free from the scoffs or sneers of their peers. A leader should encourage and reward those individuals that are willing to dive into an issue and present solutions -- even if they need to be edited.