How Does Your Leadership Define You?

“But despite many changes in our context — as organizations have become more democratic and networked, for example — in its fundamentals leadership has not changed over the years. It is still about mobilizing people in an organization around common goals to achieve impact, at scale.”

The above excerpt from the Harvard Business Review is representative of a back-to-basics approach to leadership. You might think that the opinion is much too straightforward for positions with such influence. Leadership in itself is layered, and such complexity requires an evolving perspective that incorporates science, technology and the experiences of others. However, this is only one side of the coin. While it is instructive to keep abreast of new theories within the industry, leadership is not as esoteric a subject as some would like to believe.

Embracing the fundamentals is an essential path towards building a strong and sustainable legacy. Who you are as a leader shapes not only your professional presence but also your overall way of life (and vice versa). There are no shortcuts in achieving this. In fact, approaching it with the haphazard focus of only mirroring the styles of noteworthy leaders is, in the long-run, inexpedient. You have to do your own groundwork in understanding the core skills that, with time and application, will guide your own unique growth process (see reference below).

• Shape a vision that is exciting and challenging for your team (or division/unit/organisation).
• Translate that vision into a clear strategy about what actions to take, and what not to do.
• Recruit, develop, and reward a team of great people to carry out the strategy.
• Focus on measurable results.
• Foster innovation and learning to sustain your team (or organisation) and grow new leaders.
• Lead yourself- know yourself, improve yourself, and manage the appropriate balance in your own life.

Source: https://hbr.org/2018/10/the-6-fundamental-skills-every-leader-should-practice

In my last article on leadership, I wrote: “For those of us at a management level, adopting a leadership style that embodies the goals of the organization and our own individual qualities can be a daunting endeavor. Our modus operandi affects persons across the company; it sets the tone, influences culture, and cements impressions. Whether all three of those factors reflect a pragmatic and ultimately, positive working environment is reliant on our own interpretation of leadership.”

Ask yourself, what kind of leader are you? How have you made your values and expertise accessible to your organization? What steps have you taken in bringing people together with clear, realistic, and respectful intent? Do you have a developmental plan that factors in both your professional and personal lifestyles?

Practice makes perfect, and leaders who want to drive successful and supportive change will wear those questions on their sleeves. The opportunity to learn and evolve is as proactive as it is reactive. Some things will happen organically within familiar work spaces while others will require you to look outside your usual field of view. Maybe you’ll even step outside your comfort zone. Whatever combination you decide to employ (and yes, a combination is necessary), the notable point here is that progress isn’t linear. How you are regarded and remembered - by your colleagues and your community - is predicated on you nurturing your capabilities over the course of your career.

The zeitgeist of leadership is filled with countless gurus, motivational books and quotes, prolific CEOs, and contemporary techniques. So much of this industry noise distracts from the elementary points I raised before. As a manager myself, I'm brutally aware of the many challenges leaders face. As I wrote before: “Operating at a senior level leaves little, if any, room for uncertainty. There is no place for ego in collective creative, innovative and transformative pursuits.” In channeling those pursuits, I can say with confidence that knowing the basics, and keeping them close throughout your journey, will allow you to have a worthwhile impact.