Many moons ago when I was a manager in a large organization. I had a fearsome reputation for getting things done! I choose my words carefully here and, yes, fearsome is the word.
Dictionary definition: fearsome – causing or capable of causing fear!
Yes, I was very well-known for achieving but most of it had a lot to do with volume (of voice) and not value!
Over the years I learnt more about leadership and that true leadership is about vision and valuing both those you lead and those for whom you are delivering. There was very little to be gained by aggression or an aggressive style of leadership.
I learned as well about project management and that even the achievement of simple tasks can often benefit from a little analysis and planning.
When I moved on from management and into management consultancy, what surprised me, as much as the general lack of leadership, was a lack of delivery skills.
Simply – people did not know how to manage getting things done and their goals achieved!
Well, we read all the time about the lack of leadership competence.
I suspect the complexity of modern organizations is probably far outstripping our ability to generate enough competent leaders. If that is true it very worrying indeed. But that is not why I’m writing today.
The lack of delivery skills, whether well–led or not, is even more frightening.
There lots of people around with great ideas. They have vision, energy and enthusiasm and they may well have great leadership ability. If they manage to find themselves in organizations that can support them, they will lead their teams to deliver great things. But they can founder, if they cannot work in environments that support them in that way.
If you work alone or in a very small organization then you have to be both a thoroughly competent leader and a good manager. Now what do I mean? Surely when you work alone you don’t need leadership and management skills.
Sorry but I think you do! You need to be able to articulate a vision for yourself that will motivate you to commit to the task ahead. It needs to set-out in enough detail for you to plan the tasks you will need to do if you are to turn your vision into reality.
Then you need to plan, manage and check your project through until you deliver and enjoy the benefits.
Quite a challenge isn’t it! If you need any help please get in touch I have lots of tips to pass on. I will be very happy to share with you the lessons I learned the hard way when I decided that fearsome wasn’t the best leadership style I could adopt!
Wendy Mason works as a Coach,Consultant and Blogger. She works with all kinds of people going through many different kinds of personal and career change, particularly those wanting to increase their confidence
If you would like to work on developing your own confidence, Wendy offers the Wisewolf Learn to Be Confident Program at this link
You can contact Wendy at wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com or ring ++44 (0)2084610114
Related articles
- Taking Your First Steps in Leadership (wisewolftalking.com)
- Leader, Leadership and Leadership Styles (wisewolftalking.com)
- Leaders versus Managers – I think not! (wisewolftalking.com)
