What is interesting about recent articles and books written about leadership, seemingly all these have been written by people who are no longer leaders. Yet, these authors routinely write as if they are ‘Monday Quarterbacking’ for today’s leaders under fire to adopt their "former leader" direction.
A recent article by one of these ’former leaders’ included key points, one of these point was that "clarity is the antidote of anxiety"; therefore "clarity" is the main concern of the effective leader. What???
If you're a leader, and clarity is your main concern, nothing important must be going on in your business.
During our Mentoring Sessions, we discover that leadership is multifaceted. There is no "one" concern more powerful than the other, therefore they are all important. So, what is more important here: lead by example, get the ‘buy- in’ of the team, achievement of the strategic plan, management of the sale process, watching the bottom line, continual excellence of performance, management of the KPI’s, absolute ‘open door’ communication, or fulfillment of the employees in the company? All of these are far more important than "clarity."
"Clarity is the antidote of anxiety." If a leader has anxiety, the first step would be to discover what is causing it, and then take the necessary action to eliminate or change it. Being "clear" is another phrase coined by another ’former leader’ to sell books. Furthermore, it is a meaningless as "added value" or "on purpose" or "focus." Just empty leadership-created words and phrases.
If you are the leader, boss, or manager, you need to sharpen the real-world skills you need to be a true leader. These skills are the leadership qualities needed to succeed: the action items, principles, and skills to employ so leadership works. So it works for you, your people, your customers, your vendors, and your company-in that order.
But there are degrees of leadership effectiveness. Your ability to master these leadership skills are in direct proportion to your ability to lead. If you are looking for ‘clarity’, look no further than these skills:
- Develop respect from your people and to respect you. If the leaders are not respected they are eventually overthrown-or fired. If a non-respected leader cannot be fired, people will quit.
- Make sure your people and their jobs are a "fit." Remember . . . Right Person, Right Seat, Right Bus.
- Let your people share their goals. Part of the Strategic Plan is the common goal of the people and the leader. When people set their own goals, they can achieve them, and they ‘own’ them.
- Give your people specific responsibilities and clear direction. Everyone needs to fully understand their responsible. And make sure they see the big picture and how their part fits into it.
- Create an environment in which people love their work and their workplace. Make the workplace fun.
- Make sure all "money matters" are clear. Do not mess with employees' money. And worse, do not reduce pay or commissions to cut costs. Pay fairly, benefit well, and provide security. Otherwise people will leave.
- Make sure paychecks are accurate. People count their money and count on it. Nothing hurts morale more than wrong paychecks.
- Encourage your people. The most effective leaders are coaches. They stand on the sidelines and cheer for their players.
- Praise your people. When is the last time you praised someone for their hard work? Praise effort publicly. Praise accomplishment. Often.
So what is wrong with this statement? "You don't have to be liked, you just have to be respected." People want to work for people they like AND respect, otherwise they will work for someone else.
Conclusion
So . . . Lead, Follow, or get the Heck out of the way. If you are the leader, and you are not following the above rules, you don't have to worry about getting out of the way, because your best people will run away from you.
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