The old adage that the more things change, the more they stay the same, has seldom been more true. We have been through, and are going through, rapid changes with significant impact on the way in which we live our lives. Following are some nominees for and winners of the best and worst leadership practices - some things do not change, and there are still some constants that can be relied on.
The nominees for worst leadership practices are:
- . Regarding people as a disposable commodity for its role in high staff turnover and unstable teams.
Employees may only be employees, but they have an uncanny ability to spot an inauthentic leader a mile off.
Jill Hamlyn, MD, People Business
Although the majority of us have stopped panicking somewhat, the brain drain in SA has yet to be resolved. Frightening figures are still being bandied about regarding the skills gap that exists among those who are still here. It is difficult enough to attract a few good employees and in a market where more attractive offers exist around every corner, dissatisfied personnel constantly asking themselves if this is as good as it gets will move on if they can. The leader who does not care who goes and who stays contributes to high staff turnover and an unstable team base, and the idea that there is more where those came from is a fallacy. Employees can never be considered as existing in absolute terms as their actions have repercussions all the way up and down the line - similar to throwing a stone into water and watching the ripples.
- . Lack of consideration of consequences for its role in entirely preventable bad business decisions.
A leader who does not consider and weigh up the consequences of decisions or actions made in business is skating on thin ice. Although it is almost impossible to predict with certainty every single consequence that may arise from decisions or actions, foresight, planning and preparation are the indispensable tools of every leader in the business world today. Closely allied to the consideration of consequences is a commitment to accepting responsibility for these. Continually passing the buck devalues leaders and leadership. A leader is at the helm by virtue of being a leader and part of the role is the fact that the buck stops here.
- . 'Inauthenticity` for its role in teams without a leader (or direction).
Employees may only be employees, but they have an uncanny ability to spot an inauthentic leader a mile off. Employees also battle to work with someone who is perceived as insincere. Lack of authenticity and insincerity are indicative of insecurity and dishonesty: trying to fool people into believing that you are a leader will not work if you yourself feel like a fraud. Deception breeds an enormous amount of resentment in the workplace.
And the winner is...
- . Lack of understanding of the fundamentals of business ethics and manners for its role in the disrespected and disrespectful (team, business and leader).
Just as manners oil the works of social interaction, so an understanding and utilisation of ethical behaviour and business etiquette can go a long way toward establishing you and your team as straight players in an often-crooked world. A paucity of ethics and respect is a ticking time bomb and sets up a business conundrum that it would be well to avoid - you would not necessarily want to do business or work with the type of people attracted by unethical or unmannered business and leadership practices.
Runners up in this category include changeable personality for its role in creating confusion, prejudice for its role in discriminatory customs, inability to differentiate between people in the working environment for its role in breeding resentment, and the inability to listen to and hear people for its role in stagnant teams displaying little initiative.
The nominees for best leadership practices are:
- . Ability to lead oneself for its role in inspiring confidence.
Without the ability to lead or direct oneself, the claim that you can lead or direct others becomes spurious. Being able to handle anything in your own life has a knock-on effect in your business life. Teams pick up on this ability and confidence and are more willing to be led.
- . Ability to tackle any challenge with the right attitude for its role in setting a good example.
Leaders are charged with leading by example, and teams will often emulate what they see. Tackling challenges by rolling up one`s sleeves and getting down to work with a positive attitude is one of the best examples that can be set for a team. It inspires confidence both in the leader and in the outcome of actions. Modelling this way of doing business will also take the team far into the future, motivating them to do their best work with resulting positive feedback.
- . The survival instinct for its role in keeping the business going through market fluctuations (no mean feat).
Keeping a team and business going during a dip in the market is the real test of a leader`s mettle. When circumstances are less than ideal, the survival instinct comes to the fore in order to safely guide the business and team through rough waters. Without this instinct, the survival of the business is questionable. Safely steering your team through fluctuations inspires faith, belief and trust in your leadership abilities.
And the winners are...
- . Awareness, intuition and inspiration for their role in creating and maintaining vision.
A leader who is aware of change, who has an ability to intuitively steer away from danger and who can inspire people to be their best is a leader with an inspired and committed team.
Such a team can move towards the future with confidence, both in themselves and in the competence of the leader to guide them to their goal.
Runners up in this category include differentiating your team from everyone else`s for its role in attracting people to its core motivation, taking responsibility for its role in team respect, cohesion and maturity, a genuine love of people for its role in making team members feel valued and a common sense business approach balanced with the needs of the people for its role in taking business far into the future with aplomb.
As the millennium wears on, it is a given that we are going to see more and more changes that are going to have bigger and more significant impacts on our lives. However, the positive principles of leadership are likely to remain much the same. The more these are put into practice, the more likely it is that teams and business will flourish no matter what the circumstances.
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