During the global pandemic, the need for strong leadership has been crucial as uncertainty, lack of direction, and lack of communication crept in.
But when it comes to your own leadership, do you have the feeling that this virtual new world suits your strengths, or are you feeling as though you need additional help and support?
We know that leadership development is a process, not an event, and here are the most important 14 principles that constitute a kind of “true north” for every manager. The absence of an action checklist is one of the most correctable lapses in leadership. One can create a leadership checklist from the principles listed below and it should be customized based on your role and level in the organization. Organizations that are working towards bringing the operation to normal, need to add some extra principles in the leadership checklist and ask leaders to use it as a development tool.
Similarly, no two leadership positions are exactly the same, nor do any two sets of circumstances require the identical exercise of leadership. The 14 mission-critical principles can define its core for most leaders.
Articulate a Vision. Formulate a clear and persuasive HSE vision and communicate it to all members of the enterprise.
Think and Act Strategically. Set forth a pragmatic strategy for achieving that vision both short- and long-term, and ensure that it is widely understood; consider all the players, and anticipate reactions and resistance before they are manifest.
Wall of fame. Frequently express your confidence in and support for those who work with and for you.
Take Charge. Embrace a bias for action, of taking responsibility even if it is not formally delegated, particularly if you are well-positioned to make a difference.
Act Decisively. Make good and timely decisions, and ensure that they are executed.
Communicate Persuasively. Communicate in ways that people will not forget; simplicity and clarity of expression help.
Engage the team. Appreciate the distinctive intentions that people bring, and then build on those diverse motives to draw the best from each.
Embrace the Front Lines. Delegate authority except for strategic decisions, and stay close to those most directly engaged with the work of the enterprise.
Build Leadership in Others. Develop leadership throughout the organization.
Manage Relations. Build enduring personal ties with those who look to you, and work to harness the feelings and passions of the workplace.
Convey Your Character. Through gesture, commentary, and accounts, ensure that others appreciate that you are a person of integrity.
Risk Strategy. Focus attention on latent threats and unresolved problems, and protect against the tendency for managers to engage in unwarranted risk.
Build a Diverse Top Team. Leaders need to take final responsibility, but leadership is also a team sport best played with an able roster of those collectively capable of resolving all the key challenges.
Place Common Interest First. In setting strategy, communicating vision, and reaching decisions, common purpose comes first, personal self-interest lasts.
Use the above principles to build the leadership checklist which will help your organization in managing the present situation and getting the organization to normal without much damage to the bottom line.