The Most important question
What makes or distinguishes a truly effective leader? This single question has been studied for many years by top academics, successful professionals and the up-and-coming superstars in every workplace around the world. One answer that hasn’t been disputed is that a leader inspires others, attracts enthusiastic participants and achieves results. Some of us seem to be natural at leadership, though most of us have a challenging time getting it right – and that’s because we have been asking the wrong question. Instead of wondering what a great leader does, we must look at how a great leader does it.
Accomplishing goals in today’s fast-paced business environment requires more than passing out detailed to-do lists to everyone involved in the project. When we focus on how to inspire others, instead of what we need them to accomplish we create successful outcomes.
Leaders have a wide variety of approaches they can choose from to inspire others to achieve an idea or goal. By paying close attention to how we encourage others we get short term results coupled with a formula for lasting success. The key to refining your leadership style begins by looking inward and asking yourself how you would like to be treated and then extending that same consideration to all those who work with you by asking them how they would like to be treated.
After you have built this foundation of respect, think of other “How” questions you can ask, and then get the answers from yourself and those you lead. Reflect on how you inspire others, how you present yourself and how you impact your organization’s culture. How can you show up differently and better tomorrow and how can you make a difference today? When we examine our leadership style and choose to lead by consistently asking ourselves how, instead of what, we become great leaders ourselves.
