Are You a Checklist Leader or Purpose-Driven Leader?
Recently, I have been working on a new keynote address with a coach, when something occurred to me that needs to be shared. It's something I discovered some time ago.
It's the secret to how I help Managing Partners, CEOs, and Senior Leaders to be the best version of themselves.
If you're serious about being a great leader, and I'm assuming you are because you are reading this newsletter, then like me, you are continuously reading and expanding your knowledge base on how to be more effective.
And I know you have encountered countless memes, messages, articles, books, etc. that are replete with "The 23 Essential Leadership Skills" or "Seven Ways to be a More Effective Leader".
I admit it. YES, I am guilty of sharing helpful tips and ways to help you be the leader they need you to be. For instance, I shared "10 Ways to be a Compassionate Leader" just last week.
But here's the thing.
Note: Some mentors and consultants may cringe when they read this.
Did you know that you already have everything you need to be a great leader? That's right. It's all there, inside you just waiting to be expressed in all your authenticity.
What's really cool about this is that there is no one way to be the best leader you can be because, quite frankly, leadership is a form of art (Hence The Art of Leadership Mastery™ newsletter was born).
Each leader has the ability to express their authentic leadership style in their own way. It's special.
And it's just the leadership your company or firm needs right now. You may not have even realized it up until now but there is something you need to know.
"Everything flows from you."
There is a great battle that we all experience in one form or another, and to one degree or another. It's the battle of your ego vs. your authentic self.
This battle manifests itself usually in Imposter Syndrome, playing it safe, and short-term thinking, among other ways.
Our ego wants to control, play it safe, and be recognized. Nothing wrong with that. Unless, of course, it keeps you from doing the One Thing that I believe you must do as a leader. And let's be clear. There is no right or wrong way.
But if you can find a way to lead from your authentic self, you just might find yourself leading with greater confidence, more ease, and with more freedom.
The One Thing
From my years of being in leadership, observing leadership, and experience working with leaders, I have found The One Thing and it is this:
When making decisions about the direction of your company including the more mundane daily choices made in running it, do you focus on the short-term impact or do you have a different view?
Do you have the best interests of your company in mind not just in the present but also in the future? What about future generations and iterations of your company? Are they included in your analyses?
Are you a checklist-driven leader or a purpose-driven leader?
Do you have a clear idea of why your firm exists now, and why it should exist in the future? Will it still be relevant in ten years, twenty, and beyond?
Often times you are forced to face the current reality and forsake the long-term impact of any decision, but here is where the difference lies between so-so leadership and great leadership.
Thinking of not only the present impact but also the future, you begin to take the long view. You are able to reconcile the short-term fixes with the long-term success of the company.
This is the opposite of acting only from your own self-interest (a.k.a. ego). "That couldn't happen," you say. Trust me, I've seen more poor decisions made from self-interest than one would think, and they never achieve the intended or desired outcomes.
With a mindset that includes a long view and incorporates a degree of boldness, you move from winning the game to reframing it. To do this, you must trust your intuition and believe in your ability to lead.
The B.S. Meter
As I said at the outset, you have everything you need to be successful. But there is a caveat. You can't do it alone.
Everyone needs help and you're no exception. You need someone to point out your blind spots (yes, we all have them) and to give you No B.S. advice.
You can and should surround yourself with smart people and that includes finding a mentor or coach who has only your best interest and your success at heart.
Why is a coach valuable?
A great coach is able to draw from you what you likely do not see for yourself in your strengths and your authenticity.
Additionally, aside from being an impartial voice of reason, the best coaches and mentors put their egos aside and know that their advice is no more valuable than your own internal intuition. It's just that they can be impartial with no hidden agenda.
Being the best version of yourself will enable you to make better decisions and have more confidence. You become more aware of your blind spots and have more clarity. These result in having more freedom and peace of mind.
Don't you want more freedom and peace of mind?
Until next time!
