My 9 secrets of successful leadership
August 12, 2008
I have lead many teams over the years and have had a good measure of success. Early on in life I have found what I consider is the key to leadership. According to Ayn Rand’s “The Virtue of Selfishness”, she asserts that being selfish is a real virtue (thus the fancy title)…that everyone acts in their own, best self interest. While her conclusions from there are suspect to me, I do see some value in what she is stating.
If I apply this principle to the problems I see with many leaders today, I would have to say that they are very short sighted. A leader must realize that it’s not about them. Really, please get over yourself. It’s about the team, it’s about the client and it’s about providing value. A position of leadership is as glorious as a position of a servant. All the glory should be focused on the team and not the leader. The leader accesses the landscape, navigates through the murky waters of business while identifying and removing obstacles. If you want to be selfish, then do so through your team’s development and success.
My 9 secrets of successful leadership. (Hint: Number 9 is the most important)
- 1. It’s not about me; understand from the beginning that it’s about the team, the client and the value that the team delivers to the client.
- 2. Maintain the highest degree of character; determine principles and do as you say.
- 3. Spark the team to gain momentum; be the visionary, create excitement, paint the picture of success.
- 4. Identify obstacles to progress; what’s real, what’s big, what’s critical.
- 5. Determine impact of obstacles on providing value; phase it in or phase it out then manage expectations.
- 6. Serve as the rudder to adjust course; the littlest part of the ship controls the direction of the ship and the leader is no different.
- 7. Eliminate obstacles; go over, under, around or through them, if necessary blow them up, either way they need to be removed.
- 8. Promote the team; appreciate and acknowledge contributions, direct praise back to the team, provide insulation from noise and politics, ensure avenues of growth and development for everyone.
- 9. Loop back through and start at point number 1
If you are not taking the arrows, then you are not leading! Get out there in front, take all the crap and give all the glory to the team!
~ Scott Felten
Comments
Got something to say?