I have written about quiet strength and leadership earlier. And I still stand by it: Being a leader means being a quiet pillar of strength that others can build on.
It's not about a position. It's not about being looked up to for advice. It's not about being able to make decisions for others. It's about empowering others to think for themselves and make decisions on their own.
Vineet Ayar, CEO of HCL Technologies, wrote this on the HBR blogs:
Unlike leadership in the command and control era, leaders today lead not from the front, but are the quiet strength behind their people. To go just a step beyond Ken Blanchard's four dimensions of leadership -- the head, the hands, the heart and the habits - we might need to add a few more dimensions: listening, learning and letting go! (Emphases mine)
He further writes that "...no matter where you look, leaders assume far greater relevance as allies and co-innovators than as a mentor or guide."
Leaders inspire - they do not instill fear. Leaders listen - they don't talk. Leaders manage processes - they empower people. Leaders understand - they do not impose their "understanding" and comprehension and expertise on others. Leaders question because they want real answers - not because they want to hear the answers they have in their heads repeated to them. Leaders ask real questions that matter - because they are prepared to hear the real answers, not because they want to validate the truths they hold to be true within them. Leaders play the "politics" because it empowers their people - not because playing consolidates power with themselves. Leaders follow-through on their words and their intentions - they realize their intentions by being focused on what needs to be done and what gets done and what does not. Leaders are intentional - they can change minds, but they are intentional. They are visionary - but are also on-the-ground. They are on-the-ground, but they trust their people enough to deliver. And when their people don't, they are there to empower.
More than ever, we need leaders.
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