Finding Balance
True Leadership focuses on what is important
The role of leadership has changed in so many ways and yet in so many other ways, it hasn’t. However, we seem to focus so much on the changes that have and will occur, that we lose sight of what is already working and what we have worked so hard to achieve.
We all understand the massive impact that technological change has had on our workplaces and indeed society, but at times we seem to be so wrapped up in the change process that we do not see the social implications that progress has delivered, both good and bad.
A whole generation has been born who are completely technologically savvy and yet many seem to have missed the basic qualities of life that will never change such as, common decency, kindness, respect and integrity. It is not their fault; society no longer teaches them the importance of these qualities for survival and growth.
As I write this, I am sure some people will immediately think that this is old-fashioned thinking and something they would expect from my vintage. Well maybe it is, but I believe there are fundamentals in life that should never be replaced, because when they are, they actually break down the very structure of society.
I am a massive promoter of change and will continue to be so. In fact, I am known through my blogs as the Optimistic Disturber.
I love new concepts and new ways of doing things; they really get me excited and highlight the many possibilities in life, but I can’t accept that they must come at the expense of the basic human courtesies of care, compassion and respect.
Unfortunately, I am of the belief that the role of leadership has fallen into the same cycle of destruction. We are encouraged to be entrepreneurs and to be productive and innovative; we are encouraged to be technically and legislatively knowledgeable, all of which are great things to aim for however, what happened to the social skills and qualities required to be great people and great communicators, who are productive and caring.
It’s GREAT people that make GREAT leaders.
The strange thing is, that the majority of problems people and organisations have, are still related to these human characteristics and social behaviours that are not being developed at the same pace as technology.
So, what does this mean for the leaders of today and of the future?
I believe there are four core qualities that a true leader must possess to be efficient and effective. These qualities need to be revisited often, because without them, new ideas and change initiatives will become nothing more than passing fads and our lives will continually be out of balance.
Real Leadership can only be sustained if it adopts the following four qualities and works on developing them, with great vigour and excitement.
1. Real Leaders display Wisdom and Insight
You will have heard me speak about these qualities before because they are the keys to our success not only as leaders but as human beings.
When I first stepped out to start my business, Proteus Leadership, I did so because I felt that there was something missing in the ‘business life’ I was living.
At that time, I didn’t really know what it was, but I knew that there was a massive gap between the way I saw leaders interacting and what I thought leadership should be.
Very quickly I learned the secret that I had been looking for and it changed my life in the way I led and lived.
The missing link was insight. The ability to look beyond the obvious to see what is really happening.
It was just not evident or even considered in most leaders I knew.
But I also realised that unless a person had a deep sense of care and compassion, then insight would not come easily and that is why so many leaders operate at an inferior level of leadership, impacting their decision-making, and their relationships. Without insight our leadership ceiling will be very low.
Where wisdom comes from experiences that we have had and learned from, insight is not dependent on age or experience; rather a desire to dig deeper and look beyond the obvious while caring more.
Imagine when you combine both wisdom and insight – that is what a true leader of people looks like and why there are so few positive leadership role models around.
Insight is simply a balanced concern for self, for others and for the task at hand.
It is an almost overwhelming desire to do the right thing while achieving the best result in any situation, for all parties.
Check out my previous Podcast on Living and leading with insight to find out more about how we can learn to live with insight.
2. Real Leaders display the ability to both dream and action their dreams
Balanced leaders who live with insight have the ability to see the ‘big picture’, but they also understand reality and what is required to bring that ‘big picture’ to fruition.
I describe these people as having their head in the clouds, but their feet firmly on the ground. They understand the need to not just dream, but to also demonstrate the ability to action and assess the viability of those dreams-and then act accordingly.
And yet so many people declare themselves as dreamers or visionaries, but then give up when things get tough because their heads may be in the clouds, but their feet are far from the ground, and so their ideas remain exactly that – ideas.
If you are not prepared to live out your dreams and give them the best chance of success, then don’t frustrate yourself by being a dreamer. It will drive you crazy and eventually you will give up or start to criticize others who are achieving.
Today’s Real and Balanced Leaders must be able to do both.
Therefore, if we are serious about dreaming of a better way, then we must allocate time to immerse ourselves in a pond of possibility with no restrictions. Out of this will come well-formed ideas and concepts for us to action.
Be kind to yourself – give yourself time to be creative. It is not an add-on but an essential part of a leader’s daily existence.
3. Real Leaders also display Humility and Absence of Ego
Whenever a new educator starts in our business, the first thing we tell them is, if you want to be successful at Proteus, then you need to leave your ego at the door. We change lives! And you can only do that when your focus is on others and not yourself.
Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great, speaks about Level 5 Leadership – or leaders who demonstrate Humility. He explains that being humble in leadership does not mean that you are submissive or weak – quite the opposite – humility becomes our strength.
It means that we consider all aspects of our role and of a situation and are inclusive of other people and their ideas. Our strength comes from within, not through external demonstrations and applause.
So, if you are your main concern, then you will never be a true and sustainable leader. If you constantly need the credit, then your life in leadership will be short-lived.
The fact is that people who do not demonstrate humility and have over-active egos, usually have no idea that they come across that way and unless it is pointed out to them, they will continue to operate in a way that isolates others.
Also, without humility they will not respond positively to honest communication, which means that they are not the leaders you are looking for long-term.
Humility is not a weakness it is our super-power!
4. Balanced Leaders are unwavering in their belief
Effective and sustainable leaders will demonstrate an unwavering belief in themselves and their vision and will stand strong no matter what the opposition.
They are not ‘one hit wonders’, they are in it for the long haul and again, draw their strength from their insight and their humility not from the applause of others.
Unless we believe in who we are and what we do, without ego, and in what we are aiming to achieve, then what we do will not be sustainable.
There is a big difference between belief in ourselves and arrogance. Don’t allow others to rob you of who you could be.
So, let’s have a look at how all four of these qualities fit into my Sustainable Leadership Model.
Even though there are areas that we are stronger at and even have more interest in, unlike many leaders of the past, we must now be capable of displaying all four of the above characteristics in equal doses if we are to understand what true leadership really is.
At Proteus, we teach the Behavioural Style Model documented by Bolton & Bolton in their book Behavioural Styles At Work. There are four styles in this model – Analytical, Driver, Expressive and Amiable. (although we have renamed them).
To use this model effectively we must first understand where we fit in that model and what our usual behaviours are.
Then we must identify where others fit, so that we can adapt our behaviour accordingly and improve our interactions, giving us a greater chance of success.
The real skill though is recognising that on any given day we in fact demonstrate all four styles, and that great leaders are versatile; having the ability to adapt to other styles without compromising their own values and ideas.
It is much the same with my – Sustainable Leadership Model.
It is not just about being strong in one area, it is about recognising that we must be strong in multiple areas at the same time and adapt to meet our own needs, the needs of others and the needs of the situation.
This is what is required of today’s contemporary and balanced leaders and will be even more so as we launch into the next ten years of leadership. But as I said earlier, these are qualities that have always been required of leaders; it is just that we were not called to exercise them all in the past, because we put so much emphasis on practical and strategic skills.
5. Why are some leaders so negative!
Every time I create a leadership model, the first thing that I do is put myself through it and do an honest evaluation of how I am going.
In the Sustainable Leadership Model there are certainly some areas where I am very strong, but there are also others that need significant work to bring balance to my life and to my leadership role. What about you? How do you rate?
But I often wonder why so many people and leaders are so negative and seem to spend their life fighting rather than celebrating the privilege of their role. This model made it very clear to me.
Insight – they lack insight because they simply don’t care enough.
Belief – even if they once had a strong belief system, they now just go through the motions and what they do and who they could be, does not burn inside of them anymore. This then turns into resentment and apathy.
Dream – they don’t dream anymore – they exist and manage the Status Quo.
Humility – their humility has turned into blame and cynicism. They don’t even like what they say or who they have become, but do not have the skills or the desire to make change.
Do you recognise yourself or anyone else in this scenario?
Unfortunately, our organisations are full of people like this. The important thing is that we do not fall into the same trap ourselves.
I admit that it is not always their fault initially, but we are all adults with a brain and possess the ability to make decisions for ourselves – some people just do not want to – because it is easier to blame and justify.
My advice to those leaders is very simple – get out of the way and let someone with passion and integrity take the reins.
Because leadership is meant to be a joyful and positive existence!
However, amongst this negativity are those people who are constantly trying to master the qualities of the Sustainable Leadership Model and also understand the joy and satisfaction of living life this way.
Even though it can be tough at times, I love what I have the privilege of doing and leading, and would not have it any other way. I also know that I am not alone.
There are many amazing human beings out there who share my joy and understand the satisfaction that comes from insight, belief, dreaming and humility.
What they understand is that their joy comes from within; from a place that understands its purpose and a place that is constantly growing and achieving, but not forgetting to embrace the qualities of its roots – care and compassion.
But this is a place that must be discovered personally. It is also a place that we must find if we are to be true leaders who stand the test of time.
It is all about having balance in our lives. Balance that is greater than just work-life balance.
So, let’s stop the leadership struggle and focus on the qualities required to create a sustainable leadership life, like care and compassion and kindness, respect and gratitude.
Let’s get some balance back into our lives and stop the constant struggle!
When you do, you will find it has a positive impact on so many areas of your life and everything starts to look a lot better.
If you would like to hear me speak more on this topic then subscribe to my – Let’s GO – Let’s GROW podcast.
Des Penny is the Founder and CEO of Proteus Leadership
Proteus Leadership is one of Australia’s premier leadership training and development companies. Proteus Leadership provides leadership courses and management training to a range of industries and assists organisations to build positive workplace cultures, implement change and Create Great Leaders. Proteus also facilitates a range of world-class management courses, workshops, conferences and events across Australia and beyond with the sole purpose of bringing leaders together to connect and grow.
“Our core purpose is to Create Great Leaders that will in turn build Great companies and develop Great teams.”