In order to get somewhere great, do you need to know where you are going? The answer to this question depends on what you are talking about. If you are going on holidays and only have a restricted amount of time and a budget you must adhere to, then you start with the “where” you are going and work back to the “how” are you going to get there. If you have few time restrictions, the “where” might not be so important. Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu is quoted as saying that “a good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving”.
Does the same apply to great leadership?
It is the journey not the destination that counts
We have all heard the saying “it is the journey not the destination that counts” but this is often used when you aren’t reaching what you wanted to and is supposed to make you feel better. Along the same lines as “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger “or when a bird poops on your head it is meant to be “lucky”- these sayings try to put a positive light on an unfavourable situation. Apart from the bird poop, the point behind these sayings indicates is it is the journey (the “how”) that shapes us and can sometimes change the destination (the “where”).
Jim Collins wrote in his 2001 book “From Good to Great” that the destination of “the bus” is not the first priority in getting great company results; rather it is who is on “the bus” that counts. This infers that before you even begin to try and reach your destination, you need to know who is travelling with you and are they committed to the same vision as you, regardless of where it may take you. If we compare this to Judy Rosenblum’s Breakthrough Model, which says that “an effective strategy requires a clear picture of both where the business aims to be – destination – and where it is today – current reality” then succeeding in getting somewhere must include knowing where you are starting from.
If we apply this to “great leadership” (whatever your definition may be), the starting point to developing into the leader that you want to be is not so much about what that looks like, or the way you will get there, but knowing what you are now. Self-awareness is one of the most useful tools that an individual can have, as it presents its owner with a realistic view of the current capabilities, future possibilities and potential blockers to success. Therefore having a clear understanding of the current reality, who you are not who you want to be, is critical, particularly when referring to leadership development. In 2007, A.Sinclair wrote in her book, “Leadership for the disillusioned: Moving beyond myths and heroes to leading that liberates” that “Being intent on arriving can blind leaders to new and important information and prevent them from seeing the importance of existing conditions – fostering an “end justifies the means mentality”.
Having a clear understanding of the current reality, who you are not who you want to be, is critical, particularly when referring to leadership development
So, maybe being a great leader doesn’t start with knowing what leadership style you want to emulate (destination), nor knowing what development initiatives will get you there (journey), but raising your self-awareness to the point that you understand what motivates you, what your strengths are, what has shaped your personal style and what your “blockers” may be. That way, both your desired destination and supporting journey can be one that is aligned to what is possible but also personally satisfying. A study conducted by B.George, P.Sims, A.McLean and D.Mayer (“Discovering Your Authentic Leadership”2003) supports this. They interviewed 125 top leaders and found these people did not share a universal leadership style, rather they knew who they were and what had occurred in their life that shaped them. The authors found the commonality between them was what they referred to as “Authentic Leadership” – they “demonstrate a passion for their purpose, practice their values consistently and lead with their hearts as well as their heads. They establish long-term, meaningful relationships and have the self-discipline to get results. They know who they are.”
In order to be a great leader it is important to have a raised awareness of who you are and what you have to work with
The point is not, that in order to be a great leader there is no need to think about what that looks like to you or how you might get there, more that it is important to have a raised awareness of who you are and what you have to work with. Once this is clarified it may change your desired destination all together!
For more information on how to unearth your leadership potential and create a heightened sense of self-awareness, call deliberatepractice on 1300 deliberate (1300 335 423). We can work with you and your team to establish a clear view of the current reality and assist in clarifying and working towards a realistic destination.
Please let us know of any success stories that are aligned to this view or any general comments regarding this topic.