What is your “Leadership Journey”?

You may consider this a strange question. What do I mean by “leadership journey”?

Every now and then, it is good to look back, and take stock. Consider the journey you have walked as a leader.

I mean more than a review of what you did, more than remembering the highs and lows, achievements and failures.

It is deeper than that. Have I grown as a leader? Have I grown as a person? What difference have I made to the people around me? What legacy do I leave behind?

These are tough questions.

Do I push them out of my mind and get on with the business at hand, or will I be brave enough to sit down and face them – honestly?

Early days 

I remember when I first became a leader, I did not give ‘how will I lead’ much thought. I did what was necessary to get the job done, to the satisfaction of my superior. It did not enter my mind that there could be different ways of achieving what was in front of me.

I was focused on the task, the desired outcome, and did what I thought was necessary to achieve that.

My family, or the people I worked with, or the broader environment, rarely came into consideration.

Is there a bigger picture? 

It was only when I started looking a bit further, took note of how other people were leading, that I started to realize that the ‘how’ of leading is actually an important dimension.

I started reading books on leadership, and attended courses. I started speaking to some of the gurus in the field. I trained myself to become more observant. I looked at cause and effect more closely. I took on board the importance of “HOW”, and learned the wisdom of engaging with knowledgeable people. I started developing the ability to discern people who thought deeply before they acted, as opposed to those that were only focused on their own ideas.

More than that, I felt I needed to develop the skill of listening, before offering my own opinion. When I listened to others, it helped me reflect on my own ideas, and I developed a broader perspective.

We are designed to grow 

The human being is designed to grow. If he/she does not, shrinkage become inevitable. This applies to our minds, bodies and emotions.

There is the danger that our duties and responsibilities begin to dominate our lives, and we do not devote sufficiently time to our fundamental needs – physical exercise, unhurried connection with those who play a vital part in our lives, and our inner selves. How do we learn to implement a daily routine, not only to maintain health, but leave enough time to dream and to love?

I realized that very few people get that right. I became aware of my inadequacies. But that, in itself, is part of the growing process. When we acknowledge our deficiencies, we can start working on ways to overcome these.

More than organizing, controlling, facilitating 

I began to realize that leading is more than organizing, controlling and facilitating. To lead effectively it is important to understand the bigger picture. Maximizing of profits for the company is a limited goal. Appreciation of what our operation contributes to our society and how our operation impacts the environment in which we function, are serious considerations.

Balance 

When we are immersed in, what, to us, is our life’s work, it is easy to become the slave of urgency. Sometimes a deliberate effort is needed to achieve a balance in our daily routines, so that we do not get swallowed up by the activities that scream for our attention. Some people engage a lifestyle coach to attain the necessary balance. Whatever we need to do, we all have to find a balance between what we MUST do, and what is good for us in the long term.

Challenge the mind 

As leader, one of your responsibilities is to introduce new ideas. In order to find new ideas, you need to be aware of what is happening in the world. Not only must we learn how to use new gadgets and technologies, and find out how these can impact society (for good or otherwise), we need to expand our mind. This happens when we devote time to read, watch interesting documentaries, listen to inspiring music, talk to wise men and women.

Your mentorship role 

As a leader, you are a mentor. Others who work with you watch how you lead. While you are largely responsible that everyone knows what they have to do, do you give them sufficient leeway to work out “how” they are to accomplish it?

Nurture important relationships 

We rely on people’s contributions to reach our goals. Let us show our appreciation for their commitment, and dedicated input. In this way the people we regularly interact with feel valued, and they are encouraged to continue giving their best. Good relationships are maintained through thoughtfulness and availability.

Embrace confrontation 

Things do not always run the way we anticipated. Sometimes, this is the result of forgetfulness or negligence. Other times it may be a consequence of conflicted agendas. Shoddy work, or wrongdoing cannot be ignored. The leader needs to accept that confrontation is par for the course. However, it should be done in a respectful way so that we do not make enemies unnecessarily.

Teach others to be honest 

Unfortunately, not everyone is committed to doing what is right. With more sophisticated technologies available, many exploit the capabilities of these technologies to enrich themselves (often illegally). The leader needs to be vigilant to possible scams, and analyze what may seem like outrageously favorable schemes, to be absolutely sure nothing underhand or illegal is entered into. Our colleagues need to see our commitment to transparency, and correct practice.

Develop a vision for the future 

A leader is often under significant pressure. In that state he finds it difficult to see serious issues that affect the wider society and the world – issues of poverty, injustice, climate change, to mention a few. The challenge for the leader is to establish a personal lifestyle that he does not become immune to the struggles of fellow humans who have not had the privileged journey he/she has had. You cannot call yourself a leader if you do not actively seek to make this world a better place.

The power of good communication 

One of the most powerful tools to bring about positive change are the words we speak. Things can go horribly wrong when we do not express ourselves clearly. An effective leader is able to adapt the words that he/she uses to the situation or audience at hand. How much effort/time do you invest to hone your communication skills?

Recognize the limits 

To everything in life there are limits. There are limits to enjoyment, success, authority, energy – you name it. A wise leader will be careful not to overstep these. Develop the instinct to detect the limits, and show others the good sense to honor these.

Create an environment of trust 

The most valuable ingredient in any group effort is trust. Building and maintaining trust should, surely, be one of the enduring aims of a leader. Do you keep this as one of your high priorities, as you lead others?

It’s not about me 

The hardest lesson I have had to learn as I tried to initiate a major project is: how do I ignite a spark in other people’s mind, so that they become as fired up as I am? This comes from the realization that it takes more than one person to create a new reality. So, daily I work on shifting my focus away from me, to where it should be – others.

What are some of the hard leadership lessons you have learnt? 

Written by Dr. Wolfgang Bernhardt.