Below is an interview I did over at Leadership501
What do you feel is the biggest mistake new leaders make?
The biggest mistake new leaders make is viewing leadership as positional. New leaders must develop credibility across the many layers of the organization. Leadership rises on falls on credibility and trust, these are both earned over time.
What is the most important skill for a new leader to acquire?
This is a tough question. There are so many important skills to be developed simultaneously and that development is continual. If I have to choose one I would say communication. If a leader is a poor communicator, he will never be able to create the cultural climate necessary to bring about positive change. Leadership is about taking people from point A to point B and this rarely happens in a straight line. It’s more like leading people through an obstacle course while blindfolded. The leader has to stay ahead of the team, pointing out the obstacles and communicating where to go next.
In the ancient middle east, shepherds would share large, walled, areas for their sheep to sleep in at night. These areas were meant for the protection of the sheep from predators such as wolves. The sheep would intermingle in the fold and there was no way to distinguish on shepherds sheep from the other by looking at them. Interestingly, when a particular shepherd was ready to take their sheep to pasture, he would simply walk into the fold and make a unique sound with his voice. His sheep knew his voice and his special command. They would get up and follow him out of the fold.
Leaders must develop their unique voice.
What is the best way for someone to develop their leadership potential early in their career?
1) Build credibility by always doing what you say you will do. Never ask someone to do something that you are not willing to do yourself.
2) Learn the Art of Listening. People want to be heard and many people have great ideas and solutions. Always take the time to listen and look for opportunities to get feedback from others.
3) Learn How to Conduct Meetings! Effective meetings are crucial to effective leadership.
If you were hiring someone you hoped to groom for a leadership position, what key things would you look for?
1) Passion – Good leaders are in it for more than a paycheck.
2) Humility – Good leaders treat the janitor the same as the CEO
3) Emotional Intelligence – This relatively new field of study provides a wealth of insight into how leadership works. A great starting point is the book Primal Leadership by Goleman and Boyatzis.
If you could point a new leader to read one thing you’ve written, what would it be and why is it important?
Read my series of articles on my three dimensional leadership model at www.totalleader.wordpress.com
Part 3: http://totalleader.wordpress.com/2006/07/13/three-dimensional-leadership-the-discipline-phase/
