Not too long ago on LinkedIn I posed three questions that resulted in some really exciting conversations. Right here they are:

An executive is only a leader if men and women pick out to follow. How can you tell no matter if folks are following or just carrying out their job?
Absolutely everyone says leadership is essential, but why does it make a distinction?
If an executive produces a fantastic bottom line are they a very good leader?
I assume the very first question is one that most leaders rarely ask but should really. Unless you understand and observe the distinction among people today who are following and these just doing their job, it becomes easy to have the misconception that you are being productive as a leader, even even though the reality might be quite distinctive.

When individuals are just “performing their job”, they are essentially just undertaking enough operate to retain their job. They’ll do what is asked of them – but commonly no additional. They will do a superior job performing their tasks and fulfilling their responsibilities – but practically nothing notable. They are not argumentative or confrontational – but they are not passionate either. Essentially, they do a great job. But there’s a huge distinction between doing a fantastic job and performing a excellent job.

In contrast, when persons are following a leader, they become engaged and enthusiastic in their perform. When a leader builds a team that is enthused and engaged, remarkable items take place. They take pride in their work and regularly strive to strengthen the efficiency and quality of their work. Rather of simply putting in the time to complete their tasks and fulfill their responsibilities, they make an effort to accelerate their progress, going the added mile to be the finest they can be and making the most effective outcomes. Apathy falls to the wayside and individuals commence to care – not only about the high quality of their operate, but in their capacity to make a difference.

Rest assured, if your group is simply going by way of the motions, they are just doing their job.

The second question – the 1 about why and how leadership tends to make a difference – is also an critical query that seldom gets asked. I’ve reflected on the answer to this query for years and I’ve been able to distill it down to one very simple statement. “Eliciting excellence is the essence of leadership.” A excellent leader does not straight generate terrific outcomes. Instead, they function to bring out the most effective in the persons they lead who, in turn, produce fantastic results.

The key then, is to recognize how a leader accomplishes that. Bringing out the ideal in persons is achieved in a number of approaches. I think a essential to eliciting excellence is to adopt a coach-like approach to leadership. This approach is 1 of listening and asking very good concerns. A leader who is committed to bringing out the very best in persons promotes independent believed and individual development, creates opportunities to create individuals to their fullest, respects each and every particular person (which in turn earns their respect), and develops a vision which attracts and aligns men and women.

The third query about no matter if someone is a very good leader if they create excellent final results arose as a consequence of a comment created in the course of a single of the LinkedIn discussions. Scot French was that an executive’s duty was to make the desired results for the shareholders and was therefore a very good leader if they accomplished these outcomes. My issue with that viewpoint is that, although a leader is responsible for attaining the preferred results, if these benefits are achieved at the expense of the team, then the work and the benefits aren’t sustainable. Consequently, I never believe that just since an executive achieves benefits he or she is necessarily a fantastic leader.

So then, how does one grow to be a far more powerful leader? There are quite a few components that go into creating a person a fantastic leader, but here are some of the more critical ones:

Integrity: Acting with integrity implies doing what you say you’re going to do and being true to your stated values. Consistency of action creates trust and respect, which makes it possible for a leader to inspire, motivate, and influence.

Respect: Showing respect for other folks is essential. Human nature is to respect these who show respect for us. Without the need of earning the respect of followers, leadership is ineffective.

Transparency: Becoming transparent indicates getting who you say you are. We will need to steer clear of placing on the façade of somebody we’re not. Men and women ultimately see correct through a façade and if they locate a distinctive person, we drop credibility.

Vulnerability: Becoming vulnerable indicates admitting when you do not know the answer and/or when you have created a mistake. People today respect somebody who acknowledges their weaknesses along with their strengths.

Improvement: Individuals appreciate getting valued and appreciate when a person thinks very enough of them to invest their time in establishing them. When we invest in other people it creates the feeling in them – almost an obligation – to invest in you and your vision.