Lead by Example: 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results
Resource of the Week:
Lead by Example: 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results
Filled with examples of visionary
leaders who have achieved greatness,
John Baldoni’s most recent book, Lead
by Example [Amacom, 2009], offers a
leadership guru’s insights on how to
inspire others and build lasting results.
The internationally recognized leadership
consultant, speaker and author removes
the intricacies of leadership and offers
50 easily understandable ways leaders can
inspire results. Built around character,
communication, defusing tension and
developing team confidence, Baldoni’s
50 ways to inspire results gets to the
heart of what makes a leader effective.
In this exclusive ExecuNet interview,
ExecuNet Editor Will Flammé asks the
author to share some of his views on
effective leadership. Here is some of
what he had to say:
Q. Your book, Lead by Example, shows
how to build trust and win the respect
of the people one leads. What are the
highlights of how one achieves these
two goals?
A. Leaders build trust and then win the
respect of their people by doing what the
organization expects and needs them to
do achieve reasonable and sustainable
goals. That is, they put the right people
in the right places with the right resources
and allow them to achieve these goals.
The good news is that I believe most
bosses enter management situations with
the support of their employees. Why?
First of all, it makes life easy when you
can believe that your boss is capable and
competent. Second, employees want to
work for someone who can help them
do their jobs more effectively. So bosses
receive the benefit of the doubt from
their employees. The challenge for the
boss is to turn that benefit of the doubt
into trust and respect. That comes from
doing four things right:
Set the right example. Leaders are
judged by what they accomplish. Leadership
is often about how you achieve those
results; it is a collective act. You need the
support of others to succeed, so it is your
responsibility to live the values that
matter most to our society: love, integrity
and honesty.
Act the role of a leader. Doing what
the organization requires means helping
it grow and develop. You put people into
positions where they can succeed. You
demonstrate adaptability and push for
innovation. You also lead from the front.
Be available during tough times, sometimes
to lend a hand but always to
provide counsel, support and resources
so people can do their jobs effectively.
Handle tough issues. Successful organizations
are those that push decision-making
to the front lines. But when
the decision has long-term consequences,
you want leaders to decide.
Put the team first. One earns followers’
respect by doing the hard work,
helping others to succeed and finding
ways to recognize those who achieve. Part
of putting the team first means stepping
out of the spotlight so others can receive
credit. Shine light on others’ accomplishments,
and when things go wrong, accept
responsibility. Accountability reinforces
trust, and in the process, nurtures trust.
Q. Executives commonly state that
meetings frequently consume too much
of their days without sufficient value
for the time spent. How can meetings
be run more effectively?
A. Effective meetings begin with good
thinking. That is, consider what you want
to achieve at the meeting. Most meetings
should be used for deliberation and
decision-making. You want to use your
e-communications for dissemination of
information. When people come to the
meeting, they will be asked for input into
the issue. Ideally, you want the person
closest to the issue to make the decision,
but it may not always be possible. That’s
when it falls to the leader to decide.
A good idea is to delegate the development
of the agenda to direct reports on a
regular basis. Ask these folks to send out
the agenda in advance so attendees know
what to expect and what is expected of
them. This individual can also solicit
ideas for what to discuss or what to share.
If your item is included on the agenda,
come prepared. Be brief. Too many folks
use meetings for job justification. Leaders
must make it clear meetings are for deliberation
and decisions. Therefore, they
should be short and to the point.
There will be times to discuss contentious
issues; you can deliberate them
without coming to a decision. It will be
up to the leader to give everyone a voice
in such meetings. That does not mean the
leader has to do what is recommended by
the team, only that she should listen to
what others have to say.
When it comes to debate and deliberation,
the leader should avoid speaking
first. This gives others the opportunity to
air their ideas before being influenced by
what the leader has to say. It can lead to
more honest opinions as well as a more
robust debate, and if the leader actively
solicits comments, he demonstrates he
values what others have to say.
Q. How does a leader effectively
navigate the line between being tough,
fair and likable?
A. Leaders should strive to be respected;
this will indicate that they are fair. As for
likeability, that’s another issue. Leaders
may not always be liked because they have to make tough decisions about the fate of
individuals, teams and the company. Too
much affinity with individuals can lead to
unhealthy favoritism. That’s how incompetent
people stay in their positions.
Leaders must also be fair, but not
always equal. That is, you create a level
playing field where everyone can achieve.
But those who achieve more will be
rewarded with more opportunity as well
as more resources. Those who do not
achieve immediately may need more
seasoning, coaching and development.
Toughness comes from making hard
decisions about big issues; things that
affect the fate of the organization. Such
decisions include decisions about promotion
and layoffs. The operative principle
is to do what is best for the organization.
That is, choose the best to promote and
the least talented to let go. Life does not
always work that way, but if a leader truly
tries to do what is best for the organization
as a whole, she will be on the right path.
Q. What is the role of humor when
utilized by an effective leader?
A. Times are tough and leaders are called
upon to make tough decisions, but that
does not mean they are not human.
Humor is a way of revealing humanity;
it works to lighten us up so that we are
open to the world especially our people.
A good way to gain trust is let people
know that you have a sense of humor.
Self-deprecation is a good door opener.
Tell jokes on yourself. Make it safe for
others to tell stories on themselves, but
make certain it is done in good fun.
Mean spirited humor can be off-putting
and creates barriers between leader and
follower. Avoid it.
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