Every day I get an email, mailing or
have a conversation about
Leadership.
Perhaps you do as well? Does it matter
if we are a factory line worker,
salesperson or manager? Could we be
leaders?
One challenge seems to be defining just
what is Leadership and who or what is a
leader? If you have the same question,
perhaps this article will give some
insight.
In past articles items such as
persuasion, sales, management, culture
and other aspects of business have been
discussed. These issues are broad and
complex and certainly take more than
just one article or conversation to
fully understand.
It’s the same with Leadership, it is
simple yet complicated, has many facets
yet can be simple if given elements or
points are followed.
Here is one very simple yet important
element of all leaders…
In all the reading, studying and
observation of leaders over the years,
there is one element that stands out.
1. A leader is a Life Long
Learner!
Abraham
Lincoln was noted for
his self-education and walking
miles to get more books as he read
by candle light. Could he have
ever accomplished what he did if
he had not continually read and
learned more?
Many leaders are noted for their
innovation. Where does this come from?
Ask someone you feel is a leader what
books they have read or what education
or training they have recently been
involved in.
Here is what I predict their answers
will include.
-
Information and materials that are
directly associated with what they
do.
- The
latest information and trends about
their business and industry
- Books
and materials from other industries
that have nothing to do with their
current industry.
-
Materials that have nothing to do with
business, such as classics or even
humor.
-
Training that challenges their thinking
and actions, not the same old
record.
Why would I predict these elements in
their answer?
Because Leaders need
-
information,
- They
need to have a broader view,
- They
need to challenge their current
thinking.
Bill Gates in the book Business @ the Speed of
Thought indicates
Leaders need to read books on
topics not related to their
business. They need to maintain a
broad perspective rather than a
very narrow view.
I recall a conversation with a
progressive and successful business
owner. In the conversation I asked
where he came up with his strategies
that put his company ahead of the
competition?
His answer, classic works that helped
him understand history and the
strategies others have used in the
past.
By adapting many of these strategies he
created a different approach to the
market and business than his
competition!
What are you reading or studying?
2. Leaders are life long
students of people.
Because leaders have to have someone to
lead, it’s a good idea to understand
people..
·
Why are people different
·
How do these differences affect the leaders
objectives
·
How can a leader tap into the strengths of
each person
·
How can a leader move the group or the
individual
·
How can a leader work with the difference
in generations
·
How can a leader communicate with all the
different types of people
·
How does one get the right people in the
right place
·
How does one get the team moving on its own
Now this is a short list. The reality
is that Leaders invest the majority of
their time with people issues, either
good or bad!
Even back in the Revolutionary days,
Ben Franklin
learned the subtleties of
Leadership and people. He made it
a priority in his development to
continually learn and study the
people side of business and
politics. I wonder why he became
such a successful diplomat and
political leader!
A personal frustration of mine is when
a company will invest millions in
equipment; spend thousands in promotion
and advertising and more thousands in
fishing trips and entertainment. Yet
ask them to invest in the continuing
development of their people and
leadership skills, you get a defining
no!
Which investment will get them the
greatest and longest lasting return?
A recent conversation with a fast
growing business that started small and
now dominates their region exposed key
factors in their success.
- Hire
the right person for the right reason
that fits the companies culture
-
Technically train them better than your
competition
- Train
people and thinking skills as much if
not more than technical
-
Continually reinforce that everyone is
a leader in the making
- Allow
them to use the training and
skills
- Get out
of their way
Ten years ago this company was a couple
of brothers and a couple of employees.
Today they have multiple
locations, 100
employees and name recognition
like no other in their region.
The president agreed that the focus on
continuous learning at all levels in
the company was at first very
difficult, yet was the single greatest
factor in their growth!
When asked what he would do differently
if he could start over, the answer was…
Get more people training into our team
sooner and more often!
Based on this company’s success, one
could say that building leadership at
all levels is the key to success!
Now for the question….
- What
have you been learning lately?
- What
books and materials have you been
reading?
- What
people skills or studies have you been
working on?
- What
leadership abilities have you been
trying?
Till next week keep the idea of
Leadership and learning in front of
you.
How good could you be?
Harlan Goerger
© Harlan
Goerger 7/2007
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