A Time For Leadership, A Survival Guide For The 21st Century

The 1980's and 1990’s were truly the golden years for most businesses. Growth was the order of the day and the opportunities for success were plentiful. Now, the golden years are over. Businesses are laying people off, cutting back, and positioning themselves to survive. In these difficult economic times, new approaches are required to succeed and prosper. True leadership must include the following:

Vision for the organization - Essential to any successful organization is a powerful vision for its future. A powerful vision serves as a source of inspiration for the employees, unleashing their creativity and effectiveness. Without such a vision, work saps people of their natural aliveness and motivation, leaving them feeling disempowered and resigned. Organizations cannot be effective under such circumstances.

An example of what a powerful vision did for an organization was what President Kennedy's vision of landing a man on the moon did for NASA. At the time of Kennedy's famous pronouncement, NASA did not have the money, the rocketry, the materials, the computer technology, or the manpower. Yet, the vision was so powerful that it mobilized thousands of people into action, and on July 20, 1969 the mission was accomplished.

In an organizational setting, a vision for the organization is equally important, although it obviously does not have to be so grandiose. It should, however, include a statement of the organizations fundamental commitments and values; its commitments to its customers, to the quality of its work, to its employees and owners, and to the community in which it operates.

An empowering culture - In most organizations, the culture permits idle gossiping, complaining, competition, a short term focus, and many other behaviors that disempower by pitting individuals against each other. If an organization is to survive in the 21st century, it is going to have to develop and implement a culture designed to inspire people and to forge people into a cohesive group. Everyone in the organization must be aligned on a common future and must operate according to the rules of team. The culture must empower people to build relationship and promote communication. An environment that eliminates gossip and complaints, resolves competitive tension, focuses individual achievement on the success of the entire organization, and provides customers with more than they expect, will be absolutely imperative.

Goals, objectives, and a plan - A critical element of leadership is clarity as to the goals and objectives of the organization and a plan for their achievement. Most organizations fail to complete even a one year plan, let alone a five year plan, and both are critical. A strategic objective, a comprehensive picture of where the organization will be and what it will look like in five years, allows people in the organization to see their future through the organization and mobilizes them into action to achieve that future. Furthermore, with a strategic objective, management can establish yearly objectives, monthly goals, and weekly targets. These elements serve to focus people's activities and tends to take the power and energy existing in the organization, which is typically scattered in a number of different directions, and align it on a defined future.

A suitable organizational structure - In most organizations, once the leadership has aligned on a vision, a culture and a strategic objective, what will be necessary is for someone to assume the responsibility of leader and for all others to be committed to empowering that leader.

The primary job of the leader then becomes keeping the vision alive and in front of everyone in the organization and making sure that the culture is understood, appreciated and followed. Another function of the leader is to make sure that the goals are understood, regularly updated and that a plan is established for the accomplishment of all objectives. A third function of the leader is to hold people accountable for fulfilling on their commitments, for no organization can succeed if people don't take seriously what they take on. The final function of the leader is to make sure people are acknowledged and rewarded for the contributions that they make to the organization.

The fundamental role of everyone else is to empower the leader. This involves listening, embracing the vision, being willing to make commitments and promises, being willing to be held accountable and making the leader right. People in organizations must understand that their interest is served only when the leader wins and that everybody loses when the leader is criticized or otherwise made wrong.

Ignoring the realities of the present economic circumstances has already proven fatal to many organizations and will continue to claim casualties in the future. By exemplifying leadership, by mastering the elements discussed herein, the management of organizations can gain control over their futures and, with a great deal of predictability, insure not only their survival but their success.

Scott Hunter works with CEO’s and senior management teams to create breakthrough outcomes and extraordinary performance by transforming the paradigm within which companies operate. He is the author of the ground-breaking book, Unshackled Leadership.