Over 40.4 million people watch the Oscars. And for their favorite categories people wondered who would win.
As a manager or company leader would you receive the Oscar for Outstanding Leader? Voted on by your direct reports would they vote to give you the Oscar for outstanding manager or leader?
How would you rate your leadership ability? Are you effective or successful? How would your employees rate you…. as effective or successful?
As mangers we all know that we can’t do the job alone. We need our direct reports to get the work done. We also know that the days of carrying a whip are over. The only way to get our direct reports to get the work done is by using influence strategies. True leadership is a influence process in working with and through others to accomplish goals and tasks of the organization.
Many managers don’t think about this, but there is a difference. Being successful isn’t good enough. Managers must learn to be effective. So what is the difference? A successful leader is only focused on results and whether the goals and tasks are accomplished. Successful leaders are focused on employee performance. While an effective leader is focused on long term results… or results over a period of time. Effective Leaders are concerned with employee commitment to the goal or task at hand. Effective leaders are concerned with an employees attitudes and feelings that drive them in accomplishing the goal or task.
Let me give you an example. I have been known to speed, to travel above the speed limit on the highway. However when I see a police car on the side of the road I slow down. But as soon as I see the police car a block away in my rear view mirror, the petal is to the medal and I am once again speeding. So, is that police person successful or effective? Oh, they got me to slow down… so they were very successful with the immediate results. However they were not very effective, because out of sight/ out of mind and I was speeding again. There are plenty of commercials that talk about how speed kills… yet nothing has changed.
On the flip side. I never used to use a seat belt when in the car. However that all changed about 14 years ago. A police car does not need to be present for me to click the belt. It is now automatic. In this case my attitude has changed so I put my seat belt on. The police are very effective because the results are consistent over time.
As managers isn’t that what we really want? We want consistent results even when we are not around? In fact the true test of you effectiveness is what happens when you are not around? Do decisions get made? Does progress continue? Does conflict increase? Does productivity or quality decrease?
I will be speaking at the up coming Chicago Women’s Conference, April 19, 2013, being held at Willis Tower in Chicago. Illinois My topic is “Get this App!: How attitude, Purpose and Priority help you to be the Leader others Want to Follow.” In that talk I will give tips and strategies on how to be an effective leader.
