A Lesson in Leadership
On the 24th of February 2022 the world watched on in horror as Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation", and Russian troops who had been amassing on the border of Ukraine crossed and began their military offensive. The international community has condemned Russia for its actions in post-revolutionary Ukraine, accusing it of breaking international law and violating Ukrainian sovereignty.
What has occurred since that fateful day has been a great lesson in leadership, as stories of comparison between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin circulated on social media platforms and got picked up by mainstream media.
As the conflict has ensued Zelenskyy has proven his credentials as a leader. He has served side by side with his people, when he couldn’t have been blamed for leaving the fight to seek security and safety; famously rejecting an American evacuation offer saying “I need ammunition not a ride”.
All of us prefer to work for and with people we know, like and trust. A good leader promotes a culture of cohesion and collaboration. Instead of finding a stick to beat people with, a true leader will encourage, inspire and lead by example. It is this comparison which has been brought to the forefront in the Zelenskyy vs Putin comparison
So what do teams look for in a leader?
Do they display and seek accountability?
Do they hold themselves accountable? Do they intervene with members of the team that are not pulling their weight in support of the teams mission/goals? Or, do they pretend they don’t see what is obvious to everyone else because that would require a courageous conversation?
Do they take credit or ensure others are recognised for their contribution?
Do they take credit for what has been accomplished? Or, do they pass that recognition around when it deserves to be passed around?
Do they delegate with purpose?
Do they empower us to take on meaningful projects that we are both qualified and motivated to tackle? Or, are they distancing themselves from something they think will never succeed and has the potential to be a huge mess?
If it becomes a mess do they distance themselves and blame others? Or, do they step up and assume responsibility?
(Personally I’m a big believer in Jocko Willink’s concept of extreme ownership. More on that here)
Are they In charge or Taking care of those in their charge?
Are they looking after the person to the left and right of them? Do they teach others how to do something they don’t know how to do and need to learn? Or, are they simply making sure everybody within earshot understands exactly who is in charge?
Do they seek input?
Do they really want the benefit of our perspective? Or, have they already decided on a course of action but feel political pressure to solicit our opinions before they tell us why our ideas won’t work?
As a result of creating effective teams who are all driven to succeed, productivity will increase. When people feel they are working together towards a shared goal, when co-operation and collaboration are ‘the rules of the game’, employees WANT to work harder.
Benefits of good leadership
Whilst most of the benefits of good leadership are clear and common sense when listed on paper, many companies struggle to deliver an environment that allows these benefits to flow.
So what are some of the benefits of good leadership?
Employee Engagement
Most companies struggle with employee engagement. What do you think makes people engaged? Their desire to be present, to be part of a team, their feeling that somebody cares about them and that their work on a daily basis has value.
“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” - Mark Twain.
While the above quote is certainly true in terms of vocation, it’s equally true in terms of environment.
People who are more engaged are more productive, loyal, ethical, and less antisocial, corrupt, stressed, or ill at work
More Innovation
Companies struggle with innovation. Well, how innovative do you think people will be if they think their job is at risk if they miss their numbers/targets? Are they going to give you their all or go through the motions?
“In the military, they give medals to people who are willing to sacrifice themselves so that others may gain. In business, we give bonuses to people who are willing to sacrifice others so that we may gain” - Simon Sinek
Innovation comes when we give people a purpose or a cause and make them feel valued as a member of the team. Then they will go above and beyond to make that vision a reality. They will give all their best ideas, not because they are holding them back, but because they are naturally having more of them as the result of the supportive environment.
The Law of Diffusion of Innovation says that all populations sit somewhere on the bell curve with certain standard deviations, and you have to convince 15-18% to buy-into a new idea or concepts. That is the tipping point for success. How many people will be early adopters if they are punished every time innovation fails - even good ideas need the right timing, support and resourcing to be successful.
Good Leaders train good leaders
Good leaders make great mentors, coaches and trainers, they like to see other people succeed and enjoy passing on their own skills and knowledge.
“The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.” - Henry Ford
They model what good leadership looks like. They are good role models and inspire others to be the best they can be.
Better Communication
When any big decisions are made, be that a new strategy or a change in direction, it is important to ensure that everyone in the company is informed, to reduce the risk of miscommunication.
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” - George Bernard Shaw
A strong leader will ensure effective communication reaches everyone. Hearing it from a point of authority will diffuse any doubt as to whether the news is true or not.
Financial Performance
Leadership affects the bottom line! Revenue affected by the way a company is led, poor management leads to poorly managed expenses and low margins.
“Take care of your employees and they will take care of your business. It’s as simple as that” - Richard Branson
Effective leadership, which takes into account the above, will result in in a profitable business; because the business will be well run, the employees will be happy and productivity will be high.
Poor leadership will have the opposite effect. People will be unhappy and the business will lose it’s star performers. It’s a very slippery slope to be on when the only thing that is high is staff turnover!