Components of Effective Leadership
Spring is a season of new growth. During the next several weeks, I will be unpacking Components of Effective Leadership. There is an art and science to leadership. Leadership is a skill that can be learned and cultivated. Whatever season you are in, you can choose now to grow or enhance your leadership capacity.
Harvard Business Review said; “Beware of falling into the logical trap of “if I can do this work well, I should be able to lead a team of people who do this work.” Metaphorically, because we can speak, does not make us a great singer. However, singing is a learned skill.
Leadership is Not a Position
Because a person has been set into a position does not necessarily make them a great leader. They may have authority without influence. To lead effectively, a person has to learn skills, to name a few, connecting, motivating and inspiring ownership. For a leader to lead well, it requires continuous Leadership Development.
“Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” ~ Vince Lombardi
Call to Action: Take Leadership Inventory
Great Leadership does not happen by chance or simply from knowledge in a book. Think of a great chef… many can read a cookbook, even cook, but a great chef has the ability to present exquisite tastes that leave your mouth watering for more.
“Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems.” ~ Brian Tracy
Growing Leadership Capacity
I remember my grandparents swimming pool and experiencing sudden drops in the water level. We would fill the pool up at night. Then the next full day, the water level would drop a few inches again. It was definitely not a normal evaporation. You guessed it… the pool liner had a leak. The capacity of the pool was limited to the hole in the liner. We identified the leak and repaired the liner and the pool’s capacity increased instantly. Avoidance was not a solution to finding and repairing the pool leak.
“Alleged ‘impossibilities’ are opportunities for our capacities to be stretched.” ~ Charles R. Swindoll
Avoidance Has a Cost: Delay then Decay
Blame shifting
High turnover
Stagnant growth
Me instead of We
A chameleon culture
Resistance to growth
Wasted time and resources
Compliance versus commitment
The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership. ~Harvey Firestone
Keys to Increase Leadership Capacity
What are the current leadership pain points?
Consider asking 3-5 peers for feedback.
What are creative solutions to repair the leadership leaks?
Vulnerability - Acknowledging what is working and what’s not working.
Vision leaks: How can you grow a work culture to feed and fuel the vision in a positive way?
Effectiveness is intentional: Identify five core values.
Grow in the art of communication.
You can supercharge your capacity with growing the art and science side of leadership. Whatever season you are in, you can increase your capacity.
It would be the highest honor to explore those possibilities with you. What’s possible knowing those leaks are solvable and are the keys to increase!
In Gratitude,
Ed Garner