Phil Geldart - Lead Yourself Lead Others: Eight Principles of Leadership

Lead

Yourself

Lead Others

by Phil Geldart

Copyright 2012

Eagles Flight, Creative Training Excellence Inc.

ISBN 978-0-9685677-7-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced

or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Eagles Flight, Creative Training Excellence Inc.

Printed in Canada

To Roz, with thanks for her unwavering support of my own leadership journey.

in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6

About the Title

Lead Yourself, Lead Others

I believe that our character drives our leadership effectiveness. Great leadership is not about trying to be what were not; rather its about helping others be the best they can be; for that, we must be the best that we can be.

From this flows the need for each of us to strive for personal mastery in several areas. As one acquires capability and confidence that is, first leading ourselves we can then lead others to a similar mastery, and so greater personal performance.

In this book Ive outlined those key areas that I feel are crucial to our success and character as individuals, and consequently crucial for us as leaders to model,and teach.

As these become part of the fabric of our own lives we grow stronger and more effective. As we assume positions of leadership we can then pass these strengths on to those who are looking to us for direction, guidance, and growth.

I trust you will find these thoughts helpful on your own leadership journey.

Phil Geldart

Contents

Act Collaboratively

Leadership

A group is most successful working together when a leader has been identified whom the group agrees to follow.

Leadership

When groups are working together to achieve something specific, they can be far more effective when theres an identified leader. The leader can take responsibility for deciding when its time to move from discussion to action; for making a final decision from among several options if theres not one immediately obvious to everybody; for helping to ensure that everyone has a chance to present their point of view; and to make sure the discussion stays on topic.

The leadership role is very important because it identifies one individual in the group whose responsibility it is to guide, or shepherd, the group along the path from where they began to where they want to finish up. Its important for everyone to recognize that this does not mean that the leader dominates and has the right to simply impose their will. The leaders job is to ensure that the group comes together so the best decision can be made using everyones input.

Every team needs a designated leader, and the leader carries responsibility for the teams final outcome. The leader must ensure that the team functions effectively, stays focused on its goal, and delivers its mandate. While the leader carries the final responsibility to ensure the mandate is in fact achieved, the members of the team have the responsibility to support the leader in the achievement of that objective.

Always identify a leader and then be willing to personally support that persons leadership.

Followership

A group can only collaborate when everyone is willing to work together, following the leader to produce the agreed outcome.

Followership

Sometimes it appears easier to be the leader than to be the follower. As the leader, you are the one to make the final decision; however, to be a good leader you must first know how to be a good follower. This requires learning to listen to your leader, and being willing to throw yourself completely behind the final decision made on behalf of the group.

If you have a group of people where everybody wants to be the leader, or is acting as the leader, then it is very hard for the group to be collaborative. They end up with each person pulling in their own direction; the group generally becomes frustrated and goes nowhere. However, simply identifying the leader doesnt help if everybody else isnt willing to then follow appropriately.

Following does not mean blindly doing what youre told. Rather, it means recognizing that when the leader has to exert the authority of their position to make a decision, or provide direction, you as the follower are willing to follow that direction and trust your leaders ability. Learning to be a good follower is great training for learning to be a good leader.

On a team, each member is responsible to work together for the benefit of the group. There is no place for individual egos to dominate; rather, each person on the team needs to understand that they are there to support the whole,

under the direction of the leader. The whole is truly greater than the sum of the parts, and each of the individual parts must recognize that they are there to serve the whole and not their own interests. This attitude on the part of each team member is essential to the teams success.

The biggest challenge to being a good follower is when the leader and group have decided on a direction thats different from your preference. That is also the biggest opportunity to demonstrate good followership.

Communication

Each person must take personal responsibility to ensure every relationship they have is rooted in strong communication.

Communication

Communication is certainly a vital issue within any group, and unless every member is really working hard to ensure good communication, it tends to break down and fall apart.

Good communication is everyones responsibility, and while the leader may be nudging individuals within the group to improve their communication, it is still each individuals responsibility to communicate as well as possible.

Very often words have different meanings to different people, so even group members who are well-intentioned do not necessarily communicate as effectively as they would like without working hard at it. Working at communication ensures that there are no misunderstandings, no misinterpretations, and time is spent productively, instead of bickering or rehashing topics that have become unclear simply because of poor communication.

Communication within a team is the responsibility of all the members. It is the leaders responsibility to ensure that communication is effective and frequent.

It is each team members responsibility to do everything possible to speak with clarity, and provide all the necessary information available when questions or issues arise needing their input. Each individual needs to understand that they carry the responsibility to ensure that the other individuals on the team have all the information they need in order to be as successful as possible.