Leadership is a quality that encompasses so many attributes it can be difficult to synthesize into a clear and concise definition. While good leadership is challenging for many to explain, it clearly falls into the category of “you know it when you see it”. A slight modification of Eisenhower’s definition of leadership hits the mark for me: “The art of getting others to want to do what must be done.” Jim Collins may have said this, or something like it, in BE 2.0. Let’s unpack this a bit.
Working backward, good leadership begins with the leader’s ability to identify what must be done. What “must”, proper prioritization, and “be done”, effective execution. Identifying the proper priorities of the business is no small feat. The leader must be in tune with, not only the overarching strategy of the organization (mission, vision) but also the greatest deficiencies of the operation that are causing the most harm or leaving the biggest opportunities untapped. To properly prioritize the work of the team the leader must excel at listening to the people doing the work in order to harmonize the feedback into a clear path forward. Once a priority has been set, an execution plan must be developed and communicated.
The second part of this definition is “getting others to want”. Great leadership leads people in the direction they should be moving which implies that the leader is already moving in the direction they want others to move. Often, I hear the phrase “lead from the front” to which I think, “is there any other way”? Leading from the rear conjures mental images of barking commands and asking others to do things that the leader isn’t willing to do. If you want to get others to want to do what must be done, then you must be willing to do what must be done.
The final piece of this definition describes leadership as an art. This means that every leader will have to develop their own style. There is no mathematical formula, no equation that when followed delivers the same outcome consistently. As with any and all art forms the only way to mastery is through continual deliberate practice (research suggests at least 10k hours) and perhaps a few “Bob Ross” happy mistakes.
If you want to become an effective leader of people, then you must start with yourself. If you cannot get yourself to want to do what must be done, then why do you expect to have any success at getting others to go places you have never been? Leadership is an art that inspires others to get the most important things accomplished. Now go forth and lead well.
