Becoming Consistent in Leadership Behavior
Where do most of us learn our parenting skills? Usually from our own parents, and the parents of our spouse.
The same holds true for learning leadership skills. For most of us, this comes from observing the leaders and managers we have worked for or observed in action. We tend to cherry-pick the skills of those leaders that we personally liked, and pledge not to repeat the behaviors that we considered to be mistakes, irritations, or distasteful.
There are two problems with this approach.
Inconsistent leadership behavior can cause team members to go in different directions.
First, if the behaviors of the leaders we have worked with and observed over time have been more hands-on managerial in nature, then we will likely exhibit similar tendencies.
Secondly, we are making decisions based on behaviors that we personally like or prefer, without taking into account if these behaviors are best suited for the team members that we lead.
You can overcome these issues by contemplating your own leadership philosophy and the skill sets and leadership behaviors required to remain in alignment with your beliefs and values.
By creating and maintaining your own leadership philosophy and mindset, and then identifying the behaviors that will help you implement these guiding principles, you will avoid the trap highlighted by Konosuke Matsushita of deciding everything on a case-by-case basis.
This results in consistency of leadership behavior; a benefit for both you and your team members.
This article is excerpted from my book Great Leadership Words of Wisdom, which is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats and has over 1000 quotes on leadership from global business leaders, statesmen, athletes, coaches, sages, and philosophers.
Recent Comments