Daniel Lock's blog

Leadership is the most important characteristic we can cultivate in business and in life. Leadership is about being an exemplar and modeling discipline of balance. That is to balance the short-term gains for the long-term health of self and the business.

Leadership is about awareness.

Styles Of Leadership
As with any activity the type of behaviour must be adjusted for the environment. And so it is with leadership, different circumstances call for different leadership styles. As a concept a psychologist Vroom introduced this view that great leaders were easily able to move through various styles as and when required. This ability generated what he coined a ‘referent leadership’.

Followers of referent leaders have an innate respect for the leader. They believe the leader has their best interests at heart and that decisions are being made accordingly, even if they are difficult. Charisma is not the same as referent leadership, and neither does it have to be characteristic of leadership. Although it may, if charisma is miss used it will engender poor relations.

People will follow other leadership styles such as autocratic where the leader uses the carrot & stick approach, or the leader who is the pace setter and wields power & influence because of superior knowledge or skills. However long-term results will invariably be compromised as a result.

Employee turn over will be high, client service will be lower – generally due to lower employ morale – and people wont be utilizing and developing their highest and best skills.

Note that these leadership styles are particularly prevalent in technical fields such as lawyers, accountants and engineering. The key here and everywhere, is to promote people to managerial positions because they will make great managers, not because they are great technicians and require more challenge. The former will always do more damage than harm to all concerned.

Often highly competent specialists will put their hand up for managerial roles as commonly this is the only career path available. Employee development programs must broader than this. Otherwise pace setters and autocratic leaders will find themselves in positions of leadership, unable to expand their capabilities as leaders.

Characteristic of Leaders:
To summarize the characteristics of referent leaders. They are:

• Exemplars
• Firm but Fair
• Objective
• Empathetic
• Inspiring

Leaders As Coaches
In sporting circles, the ‘coach’ is the leader. The coach sets the example of discipline, sets the strategy for the season and for each game. They set the vision for the team. They hire assistants, recruit the talent, and arrange for the development of their talent. They front the media. They imbue their teams with their values, and then live by the numbers. Which these days, the metrics are numerous.

Leadership is about helping others reach decisions them selves. Helping people develop thinking styles that empower them now and in the future to improve results.