As we put the election behind us, it does leave us with the question of what does quality leadership mean and what does it mean to be a quality leader?
There are thousands of leadership models that exist today. What’s really important is to ensure that your organization or your community has an understanding, a shared understanding, of what leadership means.
I was fortunate to work at 3M Company and the understanding I had of leadership was driven by five key attributes that I have never forgotten and which has been a part of my ongoing definition of quality leadership. These five attributes are: Inspire a shared vision of the Future; Enable Others to Take Action; Encourage the Heart; Challenge the Process; and Model the Way for Others.
This definition has resonated with me. Let me share the details of these five attributes.
INSPIRE A SHARED VISION OF THE FUTURE.
Maybe the most important attribute is to be strategic and think about the future. In doing that, what leadership requires is to Inspire in others the vision that leaders have for the future of their organizations. That takes communication skills that can inspire others to share your view and together generate additional energy to achieve the vision. This requires the vision to be shared again and again and again!
ENABLE OTHERS TO TAKE ACTION.
The work of the organization is not done by a few people, and if the vision is shared across an organization, then the ability to enable others in the organization to take action will more effectively move you forward, toward your vision. I believe an organizational approach of control and hierarchical thinking has run its course. Most people want to do interesting, challenging work, they don’t need the work prescribed by their boss. Aligning the skills of employees to the vision of the organization is a big part of this attribute.
ENCOURAGE THE HEART.
If you believe within your organization that people are your most important resource, you then should take time to encourage people. Encourage their hearts and it will create an environment of “you’re in this together.” It will build a sense of community so important to achieving successful results. How difficult is it to drop a quick note of thanks or good job? It requires empathy and compassion and it makes a difference.
CHALLENGE THE PROCESS.
This may be the most difficult attribute to develop. Difficult because it requires the ability to build a work environment and a way of doing business where everyone shares the view, provides their feedback and that’s OK. It means you are together, so if you’re in a leadership position it’s okay for people to challenge the process because you have or are creating a culture that values every person and the value of what they bring to the organization. Challenging the way you do things should be encouraged because they may have a suggestion or view that could offer up a quality alternative approach. If this creates a defensiveness, you haven’t created a culture of “we’re in this together.”
This is a mature view of organizational health requiring a value of “respect for each other.” It also requires emotional stability and quality leadership to create such an environment. If in place, it can bring tremendous value to an organization striving to be the best it can be.
MODEL THE WAY FOR OTHERS.
If you are in a leadership position, people will listen to what you say but they will more importantly watch what you will do. Words are words, actions are everything. A leader can say something is important, but if the leader doesn’t do it him or herself, then that will damage one’s credibility. People will not believe or trust the words being said because they are only words. It’s so important to do what you say is important. You are a leader and you must model the way for others. That will build one’s followership and build an organizational trust and sense of community.
LEADERSHIP IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS. The above is the leadership model I believe in, but every organization should invest the time to determine their leadership model? What’s important to develop when it comes to leading in your organization? Define that and then develop people in support of that model because that definition applies to everyone. It’s key to creating unity within an organization and levels the expectation of leading across the organization.
Everyone is a leader because even if you have no supervisory responsibilities, you lead yourself, and these attributes apply to your own personal growth and development.
CORE OF SUCCESS. No matter what organization you look at, no matter the sector it’s in, when you peel back the onion of what’s at the core of success, you will find quality leadership. Invest in it, develop people and their leadership skills, and your organization and your community will benefit.
