The Essence Of Effective Leadership
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One of the most common staff complaints is that leaders are picky. They pick on the pettiest things, which irritate people and affect their morale. In some leaders, the tendency is so ingrained; they cannot be anything but be picky. I have a sound and clear prescription for such leaders. Here are seven ways leaders can be picky and still be effective in the workplace.
One of the characteristics of the new workforce – Gen Y in particular – is it wants to make a difference and be recognised for it. Hence, effective leaders pick things people do right as this motivates them and provides meaning to their work. While it is tempting for leaders to catch people doing the wrong thing and penalise them for it, research shows it is more productive to highlight things people do right and appreciate them. Positive reinforcement works better than negative.
The aim of leadership is to bring out the best in people. Instead of picking on people’s flaws, it is more effective to highlight their strengths and leverage on them. While HR practitioners spend time attracting talent, less time is spent on tapping the existing talents of individuals. Leaders must start to pick the talent of people and give them with assignments that engage them meaningfully. To retain talent, leaders also need to appreciate them through recognising their strengths rather than faulting their shortcomings. One icebreaker in which we normally engage before we begin our client’s group meeting is to get participants to share three positive things that had happened to them in the preceding week. The idea is to begin with something positive to inspire the team. We often find when we focus on the positive, the energy of the team increases and it is more motivated, and it often comes up with creative ideas.
It is common for leaders to pick the familiar and proven way of doing things. The beaten path is often more convenient and less risky. However the problem arises when things start to change. When customer expectations change, the way we serve customers must also change; otherwise, we may lose them. Often we must offer different products, service levels or more attractive terms to stay competitive. Doing the same things over and over may be a very risky venture when the environment changes, as Kodak saw when it reluctantly changed – too slowly – as technology shifted from film to digital. The old, proven way is not safe when all around is changing.
The cliche that experience is the best teacher may not be so true. In this digital age when most information and knowledge sharing can be found on an internet search, experience may be overrated. Besides, older staff may have outdated experience; knowledge they have not updated will become irrelevant. In essence, age does not matter as long as what matters does not age – the willingness and ability to learn and stay relevant in the workplace and marketplace. There are many advantages to picking a young person to lead. Among these are that young people are more hungry to prove their leadership and they look at things with fresh eyes unencumbered by past baggage. They are thus bolder in taking risks and attempting new ventures. The next time you are in a dilemma over whether to pick the Gen X or Gen Y to lead, give the latter a chance.
Leadership in the competitive business world is not for the faint-hearted. Successful business management today requires bold leaders who take risks for a better tomorrow. In fact the Gen Ys do not want leaders who are complacent and pro status quo. They call for leaders who will take the path less travelled. They want leaders who will transform the workforce, the company and the world. They aspire to work for leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page and Jack Ma, who are constantly picking bold initiatives of change to meet the increasing expectations of a changing world. Great inventions and discoveries are the result of leaders who pick possibilities instead of problems. The Wright brothers picked possibility when they successfully made the first heavier-than-air flight in 1903. In 1961, John F Kennedy picked the possibility of “landing a man on a Moon and returning him safely on Earth” by the end of the decade.
In 1963, Martin Luther King picked possibility when he said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but the content of their character”. In 1980, Bill
Gates, then Microsoft CEO, picked the possibility of “a computer on every desk and in every home”. To be an effective leader, don’t pick on problems; simply pick an idea of possibility and make it happen.
It’s alright to be a picky leader. Just make sure you are not picking on the nerves of people and fraying them. Instead pick the positive and the good to inspire your people and transform your organisation for the better – that’s the essence of effective leadership.