The True North Leadership Series – 2
Leading nowadays requires new skills. People in organizations have changed dramatically to the point where many will no longer tolerate nor accept the classic “command and control leaders”. Nor are they impressed by charismatic leaders whose leadership is based primarily on personal ego.
Many of us have worked with powerful leaders who seemed to know where they were going and what they were doing, only to discover later that they were leading us down to destructive paths, or that they were in it mostly for themselves and were largely unconcerned with people’s well-being. People in organizations expect to have leaders in whom they can trust, but they are not so easily fooled or so quick to offer their loyalty. Many are knowledgeable workers who often know more than their bosses. They want the chance to step up and have an impact now. They are willing to work hard but will do so only for an organization whose purpose they believe in, as they are seeking meaning and significance in their work.
If you want to be effective as a leader today, then you must be authentic. If you are not, the best people will not want to work with you and will not give you their best work.
How to recognize authentic and effective leaders?
- They readily align people around a common purpose that inspires them to peak performance.
- They unite people around a common set of values so that everyone knows precisely what is expected.
- They empower others to step up and lead so that people within the organization are highly motivated and give their best.
- They are in constant dialogue and communication with all their people, they bear the responsibility of engaging not only shareholders, but customers, employees, and communities as well.
This is the hard side of leadership.
The easy side is getting the short-term numbers right. Many smart people can figure out how to do that. However, that will not necessarily contribute to a sustainable business what will be successful now and in the future. It is much more difficult to get people aligned, empowered, committed, and engaged.
Being authentic as a leader creates a virtuous cycle. The very best people will want to work with you, and as a result, performance will be superior, and you will be able to take on ever greater challenges.
The bottom line is that without authentic leaders, there will be no sustained effectiveness in organizations neither sustainable business results.
Authentic leaders have discovered their True North and live it to align people around a shared purpose by empowering others to lead authentically to create value.
With authentic leaders the possibilities are unlimited!
Are you an authentic leader or in the process to become one?
We are here to help!
