A number of years ago I was provided a Power Point presentation that I found to be very motivational. This is the first of a series of 18 articles to discuss the 18 Lessons of Leadership provided by Gen Colin Powell. We will cover his perspective on Leadership during the time he served as the military Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff. By breaking this down one lesson at a time it will give you an opportunity to reflect on his view points. Leadership mindset throughout this entire series is a key element for success.
LESSON 1
"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."
"Good leadership involves responsibility to the welfare of the group, which means that some people will get angry at your actions and decisions. It's inevitable, if you're honorable. Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity: you'll avoid the tough decisions, you'll avoid confronting the people who need to be confronted, and you'll avoid offering differential rewards based on differential performance because some people might get upset. Ironically, by procrastinating on the difficult choices, by trying not to get anyone mad, and by treating everyone equally "nicely" regardless of their contributions, you'll simply ensure that the only people you'll wind up angering are the most creative and productive people in the organization."
When you are in a position of leadership your business or the leadership team that has empowered you is expecting you to make sound business decisions. If you are going to be an effective leader you need to have the mindset that you need to do the right thing even if it doesn't bode well with everyone.
Don't let issues linger. The longer you allow issues to fester the harder it will become to correct any deficiency you are dealing with. I know from personal experience that people will test you as a leader. If you show signs of weakness you are going to have to deal with residual issues you didn't expect. Reward your outstanding performers but don't turn your back on substandard performers. Schedule regular feedback sessions for your employees and map out a plan for them to have the opportunity to excel in their position. Every one of the people you lead should know what is expected of them; don't make assumptions. A good leader will ensure that every employee is provided the same opportunity to succeed, even if it means going the extra mile. No two people are alike and each has a different learning curve. Some people simply need more guidance than others.
A good leader knows what is required from each employee. Don't make a cardinal mistake and measure your employees against your superstar performers. Measure all of your people equally by measuring their performance against the requirements for the position that they hold. If the standards are to low you may need to consider changing the standard. Maybe a non/low performer simply isn't cut out for the position they hold. Consider your options; could they be a better fit in another area within your organization? That person who is a low performer could very well have the skill set and exceed expectations in a different position.
If you operate with this mindset you are on the right track to earn the respect of your team. When you are in a leadership position people will be quick to let you know what they think. Leaders are observed and leaders are critiqued even when they don't realize it. Once you lose respect it's hard to get it back.
Take the time to digest what was discussed in this article and look for Lesson Two titled Leadership Mindset, Failure of Leadership.
