As many of you know, I'm a big fan of finding the simple threads at the heart of things. Just read a really true and inspiring post at INC by Geoffrey James, about the eight core beliefs of extraordinary leaders. (My only disagreement with the post is that for each of the eight core beliefs, he makes a distinction between what 'average bosses' believe and what 'extraordinary bosses' believe. The beliefs he ascribes to average bosses are so egregious that I sincerely hope they represent the beliefs of horrible bosses vs. average ones.)
James came to his conclusion about the eight beliefs by talking with successful CEOS - and my own work with CEOs completely supports his conclusions. As I read through his post, I saw two key elements woven throughout; roughly half of the beliefs are about seeing the possibilities inherent in a challenging situation, and the other half are about connecting with the people around you in a mutually beneficial way that acknowledge their humanity. In summary:
Great leaders believe in the practical power of focusing on hope and building community.
This may sound like the manifesto for a socially conscious non-profit, but it's actually good business: a wonderful example of doing well by doing right. And this isn't just touchy-feely stuff -- it's how human beings are actually wired. Leaders who give us hope and address our longing for community bring out the best in us.
Think of the great leaders you've known - either personally or in public life. They translate their belief in the power of hope into action: they articulate a clear and hopeful vision of a possible future; stay committed to that vision; and take responsibility for overcoming the obstacles to achieving it. They also figure out how to demonstrate their belief in the power of community (vs. just talk about it): they're generous with resources, knowledge and responsibility; they build opportunities for reflection and inclusion into the day-to-day; they know that people need to have fun and feel connected to do good work -- and they support fun and connectedness right along with getting great results.
If you're a leader, a big part of your responsibility is to create an environment where people not only believe it's possible to excel - they want to excel. Too many leaders unintentionally encourage fear and self-protectiveness by over-focusing on what's going wrong and how people aren't stepping up.
Find me 10 people who respect and admire their boss and who think their companies are good places to work, and I'll bet you anything that 9 of them (or maybe even all 10) are great performers who are getting great results.
Do you agree? If not, I'd love to hear why, and if so - I'd love to hear your own examples.
