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Effective Leadership = Positive Results

Guest post by: Gene Levine

Article Overview: Regardless of the mission, the most sought after individual is the "Real Leader." One only has to look through recorded history to know this is correct because effective leadership has always yielded positive, sustainable results.

Effective Leadership = Positive Results

Effective leadership qualities are hard to define, but not difficult to identify. When viewed by an outsider, effective leadership inspired workplaces exude inspiration and perspiration. People-oriented motivators are visible everywhere and the result is that work is performed with a "sense of urgency." You can see it, you can feel it; employees all striving to give what appears to be their all to do what needs to be done. Effective leaders are committed to excellence and getting others to commit themselves to excellence through an environment that encourages learning, creativity, change, responsibility, credibility, fairness, and teamwork. Effective leaders understand that sometime new changes will fail, but, by continually trying, those failures ultimately turn into success.

On the flip side you'll find autocratic managers who actually stifle positive change thereby curtailing a business' profit and growth. When I ask these autocrats why they manage as they do, they usually state that their management style was one they most observed while rising up the management ladder. They therefore act as they do because their predecessors showed them how apathetic people had to be treated to get results." Well, apathy, like water in a tipped over glass, does not flow up an organization, it always flows down, so it is no wonder the autocratic style is fast becoming passé.

Although I respect other people's beliefs, I never shared the opinion that workers do not like change. Based on my experiences, when it comes to change, I believe the opposite is true. I always found workers want, and actually seek positive change because to today's workers, Taylorisms and status quo are boring, demeaning, and lack challenge. No product is unique and someone somewhere will solve every problem and capture every opportunity. Shakespeare's said it best, "Nothing is good or bad, only thinking makes it so" and effective leaders are the ones who shape positive thoughts in those they lead.

I've found that most top executives are aware that there is at least 30% more production available, right now from their work force. When meeting these executives and confirming their cost avoidance opportunities, they openly vent their frustration. Even though they agree with me, they admit they are unsuccessful in getting those lost bucks into their pocket. They seem to blame everyone and everything except themselves and their management style for the shortfall. They will not openly admit it, but their competitors are teaching them a lesson on how to get things done more effectively.

The word "leader"implies there must be followers; people wanting to be lead and managed. One only has to look through recorded history to know this is true. Leadership therefore is the oldest new management style. Leaders treat people like they themselves wanted to be treated. In so doing, true leaders always produce outstanding results.

Once I was invited by the senior member of the Board of Directors to visithis company. They were experiencing unmanageable, unprofitable growth. Based on my consulting style, I arrived and spent several weeks walking the walk and talking to the people from the second in command down to the line workers.My approach is to professionally evaluate people's perceptions, their skills, knowledge and abilities and hopefully determine causes for any observed shortfalls. One significant cause for almost all of the negative issues emerged so I went to the CEO and spoke with him for several hours. At the conclusion of my visit, I presented my findings to the Board. The CEO was present when I began to state my rationale and my findings to the Board. I began to explain that everything pointed toCEO as the main reason for their maladies.The CEO then abruptly stood up and asked me to leave IMMEDIATELY and he would have someone take me to the airport. The company didn't contact me for several months. Then, one day, I opened an envelope containing both a letter from the senior Board member and a substantial check.The writer apologized for the delay but said that I had convincingly confirmed theBoard's suspicions and that shortly after I left, the Board met and got the collective strength to terminate the CEO and promote the person I felt should be the leader–the Factory Manager–to CEO. The letter concluded that my visit led to a daring changeover that had so far eliminated their growth limitations and financial losses.

Effective leaders understand that while people have problems, people are not problems. Effective leaders are flexible rather than dogmatic. They believe in team unity rather that blind conformity. They are honest to themselves, their mission, the people they serve and those they lead. A leader who has respect for all other people in the organization regardless of their position, for the work they do, for their abilities, aspirations and needs, will find the people will return the respect given them.

Effective leaders do not force compliance. Instead, they help navigate people towards goals knowing that success requires the combined talents, efforts, and contributions of everyone within the organization. Effective leaders are oriented toward the future, not wedded to the past and they ensure a positive future with their ability to successfully attract, hold, motivate and develop good people, because people are the true source of profits. They know that humans grow only through knowledge. By setting a positive example and forcing themselves to learn, leaders help create the desire to learn in others.

The test to determine if you are an effective leader is to look around to see if anyone is following you. If there's no one there, then it's time for you to realize you need to change direction and begin to sharpen your leadership skills. You do want to become more effective don't you?

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Article Tags: effective leadership, sustainable results, traits of effective leaders



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