The dogma of leadership — The 3 tenets separating the best leaders
The word dogma is derived from the Greek word ‘dokein’ which translates to think, suppose, imagine, or conclude and simply means an opinion, or conclusion, or belief.
As cited by Dr. Lipton in his book, the Biology of belief, the subconscious mind directs an individual 95% of the times for it is a storehouse of all our perceptions and beliefs programmed from childhood.
Certain dogmas get ingrained in the subconscious minds of leaders that influence their behaviour, work ethic and outlook towards life in general. Some dogmas facilitate growth and development, while others are detrimental not only to the leader but everything around them.
The endless question that keeps popping up, is what actually constitutes a great leader? There are several elements that constitute a good leader, but the key element that separates the best is that, the best leaders are doers and not only preachers and that they are example setters.
Due to the competitive and dynamic nature of the world today, a leader is beset by crises from the external environment and umpteen situations require a leader to choose and make decisions. Being under such duress, the average ones falter, but the great ones are guided by their moral compass and three keystone tenets.
1. Courage:
Why should leaders be courageous:
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” – Maya Angelou
Courage is at the core of what a great leader is, and a differentiating factor on the leader’s influence. Courage equips leaders to be ready to face adversity head on. It is an important quality that separates the great leaders from the excellent managers, for the managers play it safe and court indecision and stagnation while leaders are courageous to navigate their teams and organizations through uncertainty while enduring hardship, risk and criticism.
How do great leaders build courage:
Every great leader I know and read of has had a guiding life purpose. They are so purpose-driven that they develop the courage to stand alone and pursue their life purpose. They are the ones who are ready to challenge the status quo, be vulnerable, take calculated risks, yet be accountable for their decisions. They are the ones who are ready to do the right thing, even if it is unpopular. They are ready to be disciplined and incur short term costs for long term gains. They are the ones who continually look to serve and help people. They are ready to invest in people and have the courage to be patient with them, even if they do not see immediate results.
They are the ones who are authentic and are ready to improve every day through persistence and learning. They are the ones who become trend setters by choosing to follow the narrow path. They are the ones who show courage in times of adversity and give hope to people around them, they are the ones with whom men feel secure. They are leaders who behave courageously.
And to sum it up in Walt Disney’s words — ‘courage is the main quality of leadership, no matter where it is exercised and usually it implies some risk, especially in new undertakings’.
2. Trust:
Why can’t you do without trust:
“Trust is the new currency of our interdependent, collaborative world.” – Stephen M.R. Covey
Today the world is changing at an extraordinary rate, commonly represented by disruptive tech. In such a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous) world, leaders are expected to respond to change constantly without losing efficiency or effectiveness. Today, to stay ahead of the curve, requires leaders to have a team that rallies around them like a well-oiled machine. To develop such a team in which every member is ready to give their 100%, the key ingredient is trust for when people see a leader as credible or deserving of trust, it provides the leader with opportunity, and influence that money could never buy.
The great leaders understand this fact and they move away from just command and control and work on trusting the people they work with and inspiring them to make a difference.
How do leaders create a trust enviornment:
Credibility breeds trust. Credibility is relative to the past which provides the future with an opportunity of the magic of trust.
Great leaders also fail in their endeavours, but people around them are still willing to give their 100%. The difference here lies in the leaders approach which is perceptible to the their teams, their colleagues and their superiors and it provides them with a level of credibility that legitimises the decisions that they make, whether or not they prove to be good or bad choices.
This perception is like a halo around such leaders. They develop it by exhibiting integrity and fairness. They communicate clearly so that they are not misunderstood. They are genuine and tell the truth in a way that people can verify. They don’t manipulate people, distort facts or leave false impressions. They are empathetic listeners. They apologize quickly, and take necessary corrective action. They give credit to others & speak about them as if they are present.
They work hard to build a track record & never give excuses for poor performance. Continually improve by learning, growing and renewing themselves. They confront reality and don’t ignore issues. They hold themselves and others accountable and don’t avoid responsibility.
Highlighting the value of trust in today’s business setting from the book ‘The Speed of Trust’ by Stephen M.R. Covey.
‘To be trusted is the most inspiring form of human motivation. It brings out the best in people — and today, we need the very best.’
3. I have a dream: - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Why should you be visionary:
250,000 Americans came together in 1963 to witness the iconic ‘I have a dream’ speech by Dr. King. They were at the Lincoln memorial because they all believed in this common vision which was promulgated by Dr. King. The speech resonates what it means to be a leader with a vision. For a visionary leader is a dreamer of a better tomorrow, a better world, not only for himself but for his team and for those associated with them.
Leaders who have a dream or a vision of the future, inspire and energize their teams towards higher goals. They envision the future and communicate their thoughts through their words and their actions. They are conscious that their team is watching their every move and looking to emulate them and the visionary leaders only preach what they practice.
As Albert Schweitzer said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”
How do great leaders translate vision into reality:
Great leaders articulate a clear and hopeful vision of a possible future; stay committed to that vision; and take responsibility for overcoming the obstacles to achieving it. They work towards their vision by building communities, giving people hope and they translate their belief in the power of action.
They’re generous with support, knowledge and responsibility; they build opportunities for reflection and inclusion into day-to-day activities. They know that people need to have fun and feel connected to do good work — and they support fun and connectedness right along with getting great results.
As Maxwell Maltz, the author of the famous book ‘Pyscho-cybernetics.’ said that ‘humans are success seeking beings. When you are a leader who is passionate about what they are doing, it’s infectious. We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness.’
Final word:
While these tenets (or lack of them) may not appear to have anything to do with the challenges you’re currently facing, but your ability to establish, build, extend, and even restore requires courage, vision and trust which has everything to do with the solution. Why? Because the way we solve problems and get things done is with and through people and nothing is more impactful on people, their work, and their performance, than the courage of a visionary leader who inspires trust. If you practice these tenets diligently, you will arrive at a tipping point where you will find your place in the world.
