I don’t know what it is about a great leader, but they have a certain ‘awe’ about them. If I think about great leaders that I’ve had the pleasure of working with, my sense is that they are deeply settled in their authenticity. That is to say, they are deeply settled in who they are and what they stand for. They have a keen sense of purpose and they have reached a space where they want to share their experiences and learnings for the betterment of others.
That being said, you don’t really need to have had a lifetime’s worth of experience to be a great leader. Some people are just born with this innate ability to lead. When it comes to young leaders, what really stands out for me is that they are willing to get involved, do the work, set the example and be the change that they want to see. There is a tidal wave of young people that I deeply admire as they stand up for what is right and what is good. They have this unbelievable courage! And as we’ve explored this month, this courage is born out of a desire to take risk, be emotionally exposed and act even though they may feel uncertain. They believe in something so much that despite the vulnerability that comes with taking a stand or speaking up, they continue to move forward with conviction! That is courage, not weakness! I’m really encouraged by what I see.
The good news is that leadership skills can be developed, but there needs to be a certain amount of time and effort put into personal growth and self-awareness.
I’ve had a few great leadership role models along the way and the things that stand out for me include:
- They have challenged me and watched me stumble but have been there to support me every step of the way.
- They have pushed me to do more as they could see potential in me that I couldn’t see in myself.
- They have had hard conversations with me in a very constructive way and allowed space for open and honest communication.
- They have found a way to understand me as an individual but also known how to get the most out of a team dynamic where everyone is able to reach their potential.
- There has been laughter and fun, but seriously hard work in delivering what’s been promised.
- There has been a wonderful sense of trust and you want to do more for this person than is expected because there are such clear lines of accountability, reliability and generosity.
Having read the book and completed the Dare to Lead course, I wanted to relate my learnings to our South African context and find out what it takes to be a leader within our corporate space.
I had a wonderful catch up with Dave Munro who I’ve worked with since my early event management days doing events for Standard Bank back in 2006. Dave is now Chief Executive of Liberty Holdings Limited and is someone I really admire as a leader and future thinker. Dave has a wonderful way of connecting with people and has the ability to see potential even when it is not self-evident. We explored the whole idea of leadership and Dave shared some thoughts around what he might look for in a leader as well as some key characteristics that stand out for him when it comes to leadership.
Dave mentioned that quite a big transition for him as he’s moved from being a subject matter expert at Standard Bank Corporate Investment Bank to Liberty is having to rely on and trust the people in his team. Trust has to work both ways and is something that has to be earned and respected within in a team. Dave has grown this capacity by instilling key points we’ve looked at from the Dare to Lead book including working with clear boundaries and expectations, holding people within the team accountable, and learning to let go. Trust is a major theme and Dave mentioned that it is deeply satisfying for both parties when as a leader you don’t have to second guess the team, and for the team to be given the freedom to complete the tasks at hand knowing they have the full cooperation and belief from leadership.
Some key points that Dave mentioned that really stood out for me include the following:
- Leaders can be ordinary people who have an extraordinary energy about them. They have a sense of purpose and can see the bigger picture, even though the path to get there may not be clear.
- You need to give a person the chance to grow. You might see potential in them, so pair that potential up with opportunity and watch that person develop.
- Every one of us has potential and that’s why it’s so important that there is equal access to opportunity, especially within the South African context.
- Attitude and curiosity are key. Dave is really interested to learn what inspires people and is curious to know what drives them in their everyday life.
- Powerful conversations that talk to and recognize a person’s talents can be very empowering for that person.
- The language of leadership moves from giving someone permission to encouraging them to do more, explore more and feel inspired.
Dave ended by saying that each one of us has a story to tell. This ties in beautifully from a coaching perspective as we all have stories to tell and can choose to change and adapt our story as we go.
In conclusion, from what I’ve read, experienced, witnessed and learnt along the way – my top 7 leadership ingredients include:
- Learn to have the tough conversations and create a space of trust so your team can feel safe to fail and learn from their experiences. Fail fast and recover.
- Trust needs to be earned both ways. Create a container of trust with your team by encouraging open and honest communication. Give people the freedom to think and to bring their ideas to the table.
- Unpack ideas without criticism or judgement, that way, you’ll inspire curiosity and a can-do attitude where new ideas and innovative thinking are celebrated.
- Hold people accountable and set clear boundaries so they know what is expected of them. Then celebrate the wins along the way.
- Get involved. Don’t sit behind a desk in an isolated office and remove yourself from the creativity and chaos. Walk the floors, talk to your people and get to know them as human beings.
- Learn to listen, not just hear, but really listen to what people have to say.
- Have fun! As a friend of mine says, it’s not that serious. Yes, there are serious matters to attend to, but don’t take yourself so seriously.