Empowering every title to lead
Competing in today’s fast-paced business world requires more than one leader – it requires companies filled with leaders! Information moves faster every day and organizations must be adaptable and flexible just to remain viable. Creating an environment where every employee, regardless of position or title, has the opportunity and the freedom to be a leader provides organizations with an advantage in today’s global competition.
An important distinction can be made between managers and leaders. The skill set of a good manager is essential to the success of any business, and the nature of management is to select key individuals for these positions. While not every person in an organization can be a manager, all of them can be leaders. Encouraging everyone to fulfill the duties of leadership does not mean the company throws out the management system; it merely means that the company encourages, educates and empowers individuals to become highly aware leaders whose consistent behaviors deliver consistent results.
Although not every person holds formal authority to manage and lead, each still has the power to influence others in a profound way. The reality is that leaders who are not managers can still assist in meeting a company’s short-term goals in a timely, efficient way. A person holding a title in an organization has the ability to use rewards and punishments to gain compliance and accomplish short-term objectives. However, when an organization needs to achieve sustainable, long-term results, it needs leadership that does not rely on power and authority. It needs leadership that is strengthened with every single employee’s power to exert positive influence.
In John Maxwell’s classic book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, he explains that, “The true test of leadership is when participation is voluntary not mandated…In voluntary organizations, the only thing that works is leadership. The very essence of all power to influence lies in getting the other person to participate.” When an individual uses influence to lead, that person creates changes in the belief systems of others, and those who are aware see the benefits of performing at a higher level. One example of this concept involves safety in the workplace. People may comply with the rules of safety because the rules are stated and consequences exist, or they may comply because they truly understand and believe it is important to ensure safety at work. In the latter case, a belief system exists which drives their behaviors rather than merely a stated rule. Another example of Maxwell’s teaching is illustrated when a child will obey his/her parent(s) because of anticipated rewards and/or punishments. This obeying results from compliance. Imagine, however, the difference seen in a family in which the child does what s/he is asked to do because that child has such a great deal of trust, respect and admiration for the parents that s/he is inspired to obey. The level of trust, admiration, respect and influence directs the child to want to do the right thing.
When an organization develops leaders at every level of the organization, it creates a culture of positive influence in which people are excited to work. It attracts employees who have a “can-do” attitude and who are excited to share their ideas. In return, these employees encourage those around them to improve, and the end result is the quality of the relationships with the customers and with the staff. Most importantly, each employee becomes invested in the success of the organization.
Building this culture of leadership only requires that an organization inspires and empowers people to bring out the best in themselves; it encourages them to listen to others’ ideas and to model the behaviors desired for other employees to emulate. It is important to ensure that the management team understands the power of providing inspirational influence instead of relying on compliance to get results. Have everyone participate in the process of the month: Achieving Results through Influence and allow them to experience for themselves the difference influential leadership creates. Are you being the leader you ask others to be? If not, make the change today to create a successful and enduring organization.
