Note From Carl Henry: I have posted this great article from Len Kloeber the author of: Victory Principles Leadership Lessons From D-Day
Check Out All His Great Articles A Ezine Articles
The Three Big Challenges for Successful Leaders – What Every Leader Must Do
Leadership is a complex undertaking that is not easily defined. There have been lots of books written about what makes a great leader, and still there is no cookie-cutter formula for leadership success. Yet, from ancient times until the present, effective leaders are easily spotted by their ability to identify what needs to get done, rally people to their cause, and get results. Although different leaders may use different approaches, every leader must address three universal challenges. Whether they are leading a local school board, a multinational company, or even a country here are the three things every leader must do:
First, Make Sense of the World: Throughout the ages, people have always had to deal with problems. When the problems are big and require collective action to solve them, then leaders emerge. The first task of any leader is to “make sense of the world.” There is always a complex operating environment where there are multiple problems and lots of information. Often the information is not easy to understand, and the primary problem itself is that it is often difficult to decide what problem to solve when there are a variety of problems at hand. The 21st Century is a world of extreme complexity which makes the leadership challenges even greater than ever before – multiple interrelated problems, constant change, and massive amounts of information. So the leader’s first task is to help everyone understand the primary challenge, the root causes of the problem, and what needs to be done to solve it. The leader must have a compelling point of view, a vision that “makes sense of the world.” This is what leaders do to rally people to their cause, get others to follow them, and to take collective action towards a better future.
Second, Build the Team and Organize the Effort: A core responsibility of every leader is to identify key people who can work together as an effective team. Even where there is a charismatic leader, the only chance of success is to make sure that the leader has enlisted the help of key subordinates. Even Napoleon had his marshals, and Jesus had his disciples! Everyone, including successful charismatic leaders, has strengths and weaknesses. Successful leaders find people who have personal strengths that offset their own shortcomings. Together they organize the effort, develop plans, and designate key people to oversee the execution of the plans. The bigger the challenge, the more important it is for the leader to make sure that they have key subordinates in place. Leadership is a team sport.
Third, Take Action and Deliver on the Promise: Without action, plans are nothing. Leaders make things happen. They lead by getting things done through others who take collective action towards common objectives. If the leadership team is effective, their collective action will drive results that deliver on the promise of a better future as envisioned by the leader. Successful leaders get results, and thus they are recognized as being successful.
Every situation is different, and thus effective leaders will use a variety of leadership styles depending on the circumstances. Where time permits, effective leaders will generally be more democratic in their approach; however, in crisis, a leader will often be more directive since time may not be available to engage others in lengthy consultation. Even when the circumstances are similar, different leaders may achieve success using different styles. No two leaders use identical styles on “how they get things done.” Nevertheless, every successful leader must focus on “what needs to get done.” They will define their vision, organize their people and the plan, and then take action. If you want to be a great leader, focus on these three core leadership challenges. You may use your own approach, but you can never succeed without addressing the three big challenges for every leader.
Leonard Kloeber is an author and leadership consultant. He has extensive leadership experience as business executive and as a military officer. He has been a hands-on leader in a variety of organizations large and small. Most recently he was a human resources executive for a Fortune 100 company. His book – Victory Principles, Leadership Lessons from D-Day – illustrates seven bedrock leadership principles that all successful leaders use.
Download a free summary of the Victory Principles at: http://www.victoryprinciples.com and find other bonus materials for leaders.
Contact him at staffride@gmail.com
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