This post is Post 1 in a series of four about Integrity, the quality I consider to be “the currency of a great leader.” The next post in this series will come next week.
LEADERSHIP IS NOT HARD – IT JUST TAKES HARD WORK
The world needs great leaders, and we need them now. From Weiner to Madoff, the poor leadership and ethical failures of both elected officials and corporate executives haunt the news, and the general public is more aware than ever that good leadership is very hard to find.
To me, Integrity is the major currency of a great leader. As I say in my book, “Without Integrity- You Got Nothing.” Truly great leaders have worked hard to develop integrity, and even harder to maintain it. These leaders understand that a leader does not need to be a genius to be successful – cultivating good leadership skills is not hard, it’s just hard work.
After 30 years as an executive, I founded Sinnott Executive Consulting to “Inspire the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow to Change the World”. Here are some key tips on how to improve your ability and skills to become a a Great Leader, whether you are a current leader or someone who aspires to be a leader in your community, church, or company.
Just like every company needs a Board of Trustees to get advice and counsel, so do leaders need an “outside” voice. This one proactive effort is significantly under utilized by leaders today. Often leaders think they “know it all” or that asking for outside advice and counsel will be seen as a sign of weaknesses. A leader needs to have others they can reach out to and get open and honest feedback before making key decisions. Being a leader can be a very lonely place and many mistakes can be prevented if a leader had their own Board of Trustees.
Here are five points to consider when forming your Board of Trustees;
1. Ask the Tough Questions - Identify Board Members that ask the tough, insightful questions bring a whole different perspective to the conversation. They not only make sure all of the issues are being discussed, but also allow the leader to “think out loud”. Sometimes just verbalizing an answer will help bring clarity to a challenging issue. Plus a leader will own the result more ifthey arrive at the conclusion on their own.
2. Great Listeners - In addition to providing honest feedback a Board Member must be a great listener. They must be able to separate out the essential from the non essential facts. Too many times decisions are made based upon the less important facts. A great listener will help toprevent that from happening.
3. Seek “Brutal” Honesty- Find individuals who are not afraid to be brutally honest and tell you exactly how they feel. Too much time is spent on trying to be nice to one another when what is needed is clarity. Now this is easier said than done! Most leaders are used getting their way from people who are either afraid of them or kissing their butts. If you ask for honesty, you must be prepared for it. If fact, it actually may be refreshing!
4. Seek Variety - Leaders should not look for Board members in their areas of strength. They should identify areas of weakness and then seek out individuals who are well known for their expertise in a particular area. For example, if the company will be considering future mergers/acquisitions, then the leaders should seek out those individuals in the legal and financial professions or an executive that has been through a similar experience. Having an outside resource to get new perspectives and ideas is a great asset to any leader.
5. Just Ask - Too many times a leader will not follow through on developing their Board of Trustees because the are afraid to ask. I have found that being open and honest with potential Board of Trustees is a great place to start and most individuals are more than willing to help. Most Board of Trustees will say it is their opportunity to return the favor for others that have helped them throughout their career.
Please email me and let me know of your experience with forming your Board of Trustees.