A different kind of leadership

A leader is typically pictured as a person who is a mentor or a coach, looking into the well-being of his or her employees, and leading from the front.

But leaders also play another important role – one of keeping the proverbial ship afloat.

Two completely different things, requiring different approaches to leadership.

When the leader has a vision, he or she inspires and aligns everybody’s interests to that vision, makes them see mutual benefit, and works with the people towards achieving that vision. This requires a strategy that hinges on cooperation and trust-building.

The strategy to leadership in such a case is fairly individualistic. That is, the leader interacts with his/her compatriots at a one-to-one level, making sure that everyone benefits in their own way.

However, when it is the matter of keeping the ship afloat, a different approach is needed.

Working on appeasing individuals’ emotions and needs fails miserably in this regard, as feelings of favouritism and partiality creep in. This eventually erodes into the morale of the employees, eventually risking disintegration of the organization.

The longevity of the organization is ensured only if its mission is clear.

This requires transparency.

The leader has to make the mission of the organization crystal clear – what it stands for, what it strives to achieve, where the organization sees itself in ‘N’ years, and what needs doing for it to reach that position. This requires that all working within the organization are aware of its mission.

This is seeded by transparency – of mission goals, of roles and responsibilities, of means, and of actions taken and their resulting consequences.

The leader then ensures that the values of the members of the organization are aligned with the values of the organization.  

Individual needs or goals are not prioritized, as growth of the organization is.

Conflict will be mainstay.

Resolutions will not be reached.

But, if there is transparency of the mission, and an unwavering dedication to stand by it on part of those holding positions of power and responsibility, there will be mutual respect even if there is disagreement, or for that matter even discontent.

It is not that the leader does not care about an individual’s growth or well-being. It is that this role of leadership calls for putting the well-being of the organization first.