Back to the Basics of Leadership

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"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

~John Quincy Adams

Autocratic, Bureaucratic, Charismatic, Democratic...are only a few leadership styles. They all have pros and cons and can be effective in different situations.

There is no one "right" way to lead. Different leadership styles are needed for different situations. 

I've been a big believer for a long time in what is called Transformational and Situational Leadership. This leader is one that can enter a situation and know what type of leadership is needed to accomplish the goal.

A person with this style is truly a leader who can inspire their team with a clear and shared vision. These leaders are highly visible in the organization and spend a lot of time communicating. These leaders look after initiatives that add value to the organization. They are good delegators and perform what is termed "Blend and Lead" or "Meet, Point, Dance". You must first meet someone on their ground where they’re at and blend with them, and see where they are before you can begin pointing (leading) them. And then continue this leadership dance.

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

~ Peter F. Drucker

To decide which leadership style is best for you, you must choose the best approach for the situation keeping in mind the following:

  • The skill levels and experience of the members of your team.
  • The work involved (routine or new and creative).
  • The organizational environment (stable or radically changing, conservative or adventurous).
  • Your own authentic leadership style.

Getting back to basics includes the following:

  • Create a reliable and vivid vision of the future that people respect and can believe in
  • Communicate your vision constantly and consistently
  • Be confident, be calm and inspire confidence in others
  • Build a great reputation for expertise and a track record of achievement
  • Earn respect, value, and trust
  • Make good decisions under pressure knowing you've done your homework
  • Build a strong, flexible and highly effective team
  • Expand your ability to deliver
  • Build empathic, mutually trusting relationships
  • Enjoy mutually rewarding, working relationships with team members and peers.
  • Keep people on target. They'll respect you for it.
  • Learn to inspire and motivate team members so that they'll give their very best
  • Become a truly inspirational leader

What type of leader do you choose to be?

"Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men - the other 999 follow women."

~ Groucho Marx


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