Many years ago I worked with the manager of a national sports team.
“People say that I must be mad to take this job,” he said, “but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I love the adrenalin of performing at the highest level and getting to work with the best players in the country.”
“Certainly the press coverage gets rough, but it comes with the territory. Few people get this chance, so I would have been mad not to take the role.”
Let’s explore this idea of accepting the whole leadership package.
1) You can clarify the specific kind of leader you want to be.
The first step is to decide what kind of leader you want to be. We often think of people leaders. But there are also thought leaders, creative leaders and other kinds of leaders.
Maria Montessori, for example, was a pioneering leader in education. She showed how it is possible to help students to go through a process of absorption, adventure and achievement.
Mahatma Gandhi led campaigns of non-violence. He believed it was important to: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Steve Jobs believed it was important to: “Put a ding in the Universe.”
Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, showed how to improve the planet by personally planting over one million trees.
Try tackling the exercise on this theme. First, describe what kind of leader you want to be. Second, describe the specific things you want to do and deliver when being this kind of leader.
2) You can clarify the pluses and minuses involved in the leadership package.
There are both pluses and minuses involved in becoming a leader. Here are some of the upsides and downsides when, for example, running an organisation.
The pluses are:
* Getting the chance to lead an organisation.
* Having the power to make things happen.
* Inheriting some good employees.
* Doing something exciting.
* Probably being well paid.
The potential minuses are:
* Having to make tough decisions – though you may enjoy taking such decisions.
* Inheriting many employees who should have moved on.
* Working 16 hours a day.
* Being lonely.
Try tackling the exercise on this theme. Looking at the specific leadership role you want to take, do two things. First, describe the pluses of being this kind of leader. Second, describe the potential minuses. Try completing the following sentences.
3) You can clarify how to build on the pluses and minimise the minuses.
Start by focusing on the upsides. Looking at each point in turn, explore how you can maximise the pluses.
How can you increase the chances of success? How can you use your authority to make things happen? How can you encourage the positive people? How can you communicate an exciting vision? How can you get some quick successes?
Moving onto the next stage, explore how you can minimise the minuses.
How can you make the tough decisions? How can you, as far as possible, find positive solutions to the challenges? How can you manage your energy? How can you encourage yourself on the route towards achieving the goals?
Try tackling the following exercise. First, describe how you can build on the pluses and minimise the minuses. Second, on a scale 0 – 10, rate the extent to which you want to be a leader.
Make sure the attractiveness is at least 7+/10. You will then go into the role fully accepting the total leadership package. Try completing the following sentences.
Posted on Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 at 4:00 pm in Super teams, The Strengths Blog | RSS feed
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