To some people leadership looks and feels natural, but the confidence to lead is not inbuilt. That confidence did not just appear. Since childhood the “natural” leader has been trying things out, and getting things wrong, half right or perfect over many years before assuming a position in which they obviously feel comfortable but probably never analysed to any great degree; to them its just the way it is. And of course whilst they might be good at painting the forward looking picture of the organisation, and “leading from the front” they may be incompetent at a whole range of things that equally need doing just as urgently.
This is where the power of the TEAM comes in. Many business leaders find themselves in leadership positions unexpectedly, and feel that they are ill-prepared for the task ahead, but not being the “natural” leader should not be a hindrance to leadership success in the extraordinary enterprise.
It is recognising that for each employee the level of leadership that is needed is different that makes the great leader. It is understanding that in any organisation it is the TEAM and its power when harnessed correctly and not wastefully that determines extraordinary performance, not the clinging to the details oneself. And in the many different teams that make up the enterprise, it is giving permission to team managers and members to take leadership responsibility, again that word EMPOWERMENT, that delivers extraordinary performance.
And once the team has been given permission to lead it is the overall leaders task to communicate to all the members of the enterprise who is doing what, why and to whom and for whom. Just because others have permission to lead does not mean laissez faire management. It means that true delegation with responsibility is in place, and the Leader can devote time to other tasks.
No comments:
Post a Comment