BLOG - ThinkLead Ecosystem

Moving from a good to a better to a Great leader

How do you progress from a GOOD to a BETTER to a GREAT leader?

Overall there are at least three stages through which you may be progressing. Few if any are currently in Stage 3. It is possible to step right into Stage 3. Take a moment and review where you are currently.

Stage 1 – GOOD

You realise that your personal leadership development is important. So you invest in it, be it through organisational resources or your own.

No matter the content, models, philosophies or programs, most if not all of the development will fall under four universal levels of leadership:

From tick box leadership development to significant impact…

How does leadership development progress from a tick box exercise to actually moving an organisation from GOOD to BETTER to GREAT – significance, a space where organisations more than last through generations? We truly believe if leadership development is done correctly it will become the cornerstone of a great and significant organisation.

Overall there are at least three stages through which organisations usually progress, though few if any reach Stage 3 fully. It is possible to step right into Stage 3. Take a moment and review where your organisation is currently.

It is time to "Authenticate" Leaders and Leadership

Far too many signs denote that the time has come to “Authenticate” leaders in all sectors of society.

The world desperately needs leaders who…

Leaders Should Be Evaluated

We need to do what’s necessary – no matter how bold – to ensure consistent quality, authentic leadership becomes the standard in our governments, businesses, educational institutions…everywhere. The time we live and lead in requires this of us. It is our duty and responsibility towards future generations to step up to the plate and hand over the leadership baton in a healthier and more responsible way. The very profession or role of leadership is what will ensure we, our people, our organisations and our broader society survive and hopefully thrive in these unprecedented times. Treat leadership and how we grow authentic leaders as we have been doing and the future will be miserable, extremely bleak, uncontrollable chaos. It sounds pessimistic or negative. But is it really? Someone has to say it and it might as well be us who view ourselves as activists.

Professionalise Leadership Before That First Promotion

World over individuals are promoted into leadership positions, based on their technical performance history and very seldom – if ever – on their leadership history or abilities. These crucial changes are “disguised” behind titles like supervisor or manager. But let’s be frank about it, they become leaders; they achieve objectives through others; they influence different, unique and complex human beings directly in a formal capacity. In fact, they set the foundation for the collective reputation and perception of leadership as a whole, due to the lived experience of millions of people out there. They are the first contact with official leadership for far too many followers. How does this even make sense? No individual should occupy the sacred role of leading without first achieving leadership fitness, proving that they have or are undergoing a continuous journey of qualifying for the privilege; of making sure their perspective on leadership and its infinitely important role is accurate and authentic from the start. Imagine if we allowed individuals to start building bridges before qualifying as Engineers; Surgeons to operate on patients before qualifying; and so on.

Professionalisation of Leadership

A call to professionalise leadership could raise the eyebrows of some leaders, as they struggle to reconcile with or wrap their minds around such a vision. Others will express interest. While some will think it’s a brilliant proposal.

I submit that we as a society have no worthwhile alternative if we want to significantly change the collective standard of leadership. What we have done up until now to ensure high standards across the board has frankly been a sad indictment of our world and our understanding of leadership and its irreplaceable role and influence in society. In fact, if we had to account to future generations we may be deeply embarrassed.

The world is producing “Worse” not “Better” leaders

Is the world producing better or worse leaders, in politics and business, collectively speaking? We asked this question in two separate polls, on Twitter and LinkedIn:

All together – 807 votes came in. It’s a good sample:

Votes for “worse” were 76-86%

Is this a result we look at, state loudly or think to ourselves that it isn’t surprising, brush over it and move on? Surely not. I know it can be tempting to do because one’s life is so inundated by more than enough deliverables and expectations.