The Keys to Authentic and Effective Leadership

Here's a guest post by Larry Cole & Byrd Baggett, authors of Charisma-Based Leadership: How to Be the Leader That Everyone Wants to Follow.

Effective leaders require both technical and people skills. Sad to say, the bulk of their training has been to ensure technical success instead of honing their people skills, which will in fact ultimately determine their success. There are many reasons for this asymmetrical development that are beyond the scope of this review. But consider the irony that the number one responsibility of leaders is to develop leaders. Research shows that the way leaders treat their subordinates is the number one reason this valuable talent leave the organization.

While our book, CHARISMA-BASED LEADERSHIP, is full of tips, strategies, and exercises on how to evolve into the leader that others want to follow and to help you to effectively develop leaders, here are four topics to help steer you in the right direction.

1. Values-based working relationships. We wish we had a dollar for every time we’ve been asked, “How do I motivate employees?” The short answer is you can’t motivate anyone but yourself. Effective leaders engage in behaviors that will help followers decide to become motivated and to likewise become effective leaders.

Every leader needs to know how to create a workplace characterized by such values as trust, respect, communication, and teamwork to create peak performance. To get where you want to go, you must know how to get there. For example, how do you show employees they are valued? Through respect. Leaders typically don’t think in terms of behavioral definitions, but it’s easier than you may think. Accept each employee as an individual; ask them for their input, listen to understand that input, and the crowning jewel is using their input. Last, but certainly not least, provide recognition for a job well done.

2. Leading change. Organizational leaders are change agents. We’ve asked thousands of leaders to identify the energy systems inherent in change and not one have volunteered to do so. The critical questions are: (1) How are you going to manage them, if you don’t know what they are? (2) How are you going to teach future leaders to manage change if you don’t know? You can’t. There’s much more to change than simply telling people “Yesterday we did it that way and today we’re doing it this way.”

3. I must accept responsibility for my behavior. You’re right; it is easier to blame others for your actions. But that won’t get you very far. To maximize your effectiveness as a role model for leadership development you must accept complete responsibility for your actions. Instead of running from mistakes, use them as learning opportunities. Exhibit responsibility to improve working relationships with your direct reports and internal customers, to add value, and to live Gandhi’s quote “Be the change you wish to see in this world.” Effective leaders focus on helping people be successful. Many organizational frustrations would automatically disappear if every leader lived this principle.

4. Controlling your ego. As one CEO said, “you were a person before being titled.” Charisma Based Leadership provides several suggestions to control your ego and be comfortable in your skin. A critical one is recognizing that everyone is equally important. You only havx to rxad this sxntxncx to rxalizx the importancx of xvxry lxttxr in thx alphabxt. This principle applies to everyone in your company.