The Four Factors of Effective Leadership

More Better

One other quote from Better seemed relevant. Dr. Gawande was concerned about the need for meaning, purpose and significance for those who work in America's health care system.

He explained that even an expert surgeon is "just one of 819,000 physicians, 2.4 million nurses, 388,000 medical assistants, 232,000 pharmacists, 294,000 lab technicians, 121,000 paramedics, 99,000 respiratory therapists, and 85,000 nutritionists. It can be hard to feel like one is not just a cog in a machine . . . none of us is irreplaceable . . . so, in this work one begins to wonder 'how do I really matter?'"

Effective leaders recognize that this is a fundamental question that every person is asking in one way or another. We all want to know that what we do matters, that we've made a difference, that we are not just wasting our time.

It is the leader's job to constantly find and communicate the importance of whatever work is being done. Leaders inspire by reminding people that they matter, that they are unique, and that the team, the organization and the community needs them and recognizes their value.

Do you deal in ideals?

Here is a quote that I heard during Nelson Mandela's birthday concert.

"I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve but, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

Vision is commonly defined as a picture of an ideal future reality. This seems straightforward, but the ideal is often seen as unreasonable or unrealistic. Leaders who focus on it are called naive and criticized for being unwilling to compromise.

But no one has ever been inspired by compromise. People don't dedicate their lives and their souls to mediocre solutions and bland goals. People don't risk their lives for a vision that is less than ideal. That is one reason why Mandela is so revered, he stayed focused on achieving the ideal, while most others gave up and settled for something less.

What is your ideal?

What would you live and die for?

Have you been settling for less than the ideal?

Is it time to stop compromising?

Planning a big party?

I'm sitting here watching 46664, a concert celebrating Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday. (46664 was his identification number during his 27 years as a prisoner on Robben Island)

The third factor of effective leadership is inspiration, which includes developing a personal mission.  Imagining one's 80th birthday party is a common exercise used to help people discover and clarify their mission. Mandela has certainly set the bar quite high. First, he's made it to 90, not just 80. Second, most of the world was invited to his party (if not in person, then via television). Third, some of the most well-known figures in the world participated in the event. Bono even suggested that there should be an annual holiday to recognize Mandela's contribution to his people and the world.

I doubt that, as a young man, Mandela would have envisioned this celebration. However, it beautifully illustrates that the end of our life gives testament to the way we lived that life.

So, are you planning a big party? Will it be as big as Mandela's?

What do you need to do now to earn that kind of celebration? How do you need to live today, so that your 90th birthday will rival his?

Even if you don't have the answers yet, these are important questions.   

Leadership Checkers

My daughters, ages 6 and 4, decided they'd like to learn how to play checkers tonight. After helping them understand the basics, I tried to help them consider the consequences of each move. I asked them to think about one question before moving a piece. "What will probably happen if I do this?"

It struck me that this is a great question for leaders to ask themselves. Effective leadership is oriented towards the future. Unfortunately, sometimes we just do things without considering the consequences. We do things out of habit. We do things because everyone else is doing them. We do things because of pressure from others. But we forget to ask ourselves, "What will probably happen if I do this?"

As I watched my daughters play, I saw that when they asked the question, they made better decisions and got better results. When they just moved without thinking about the consequences, they made bad decisions and got bad results.

It may seem like a simple lesson and it is. However, it is often overlooked. So, next time you have an important move to make, remember to ask the question. "What will probably happen if I do this?"

Circling Back

Stosh has another great post about vision, leadership and communication. I encourage you to check it out. Here is a sample.

"Virtually everyone agrees that vision is an essential component of leadership. Call it forward looking, inspirational or vivid – the message is the same. Leaders must concern themselves with what’s next.

In order to accomplish this, leaders have to scout the territory. When pioneers were exploring this country, they had scouts, parties who would go before the rest of the convoy to determine the best way forward and forecast danger when it lay ahead.

That, however, was not the most essential part. The absolutely indispensible action was circling back to inform and brief the rest of the party before riding on again.

Failing to “circle back” causes many leaders to fail."

Have you circled back lately? Are you sharing what you've seen with your team? It is one thing to have a vision and another to communicate it to your people. Effective leaders do both.

Martin Luther King Jr.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday I've included an excerpt from Factor 3: Inspiration in The Four Factors of Effective Leadership.

Dr. King personified inspiration. He had a powerful sense of personal mission and believed he was called to lead his people out of oppression. His words rallied millions of people to join the cause of justice for black Americans. He gave courage to people who had been discouraged and hope to people who were hopeless.

King also demonstrated significant perseverance as he pursued his vision. He spent time in jail on a number of occasions. In fact, his book Letter from a Birmingham Jail, had a profound impact on the civil rights movement in America. His house was bombed and he received constant death threats. During one march in the South, he was struck in the head with a brick and he was stabbed during a book signing in New York. Finally, he was killed because of his commitment to the cause of liberty. He was willing to endure imprisonment, physical abuse and even death to fulfill his vision. His life and violent death are a testimony to the power of inspiration.

King's life and death propose at least one very difficult question that all leaders must eventually answer. King gave his life to fulfill the dream. What are you willing to endure in order to achieve your vision?

If you want to learn more, I recommend Donald T. Phillips' book Martin Luther King. Jr. on Leadership and the PBS Video Citizen King, which you might be able to catch on TV tonight.