From more than 45 years of observing and doing, I have developed some leadership rules that I feel are absolutely inviolate. It’s always hazardous to say there are no exceptions to a rule, but for these rules, I haven’t found any. I have found that following these rules goes a long way toward improving leadership success. I’ve learned them by experience, observation, training, and sometimes just blind luck.
As you read the rules, you may say, “Hey, that’s obvious. Everyone knows that.” If so, great! You are probably one of the more successful leaders, but let me assure you, there are plenty around you for whom this isn’t obvious.
So here they are. Break them at your own peril!
1. Always have a plan – Know what you’re supposed to be doing.
That probably sounds a little silly and you may be saying “that’s the best he can do?” I have been amazed at how many leaders take on the mantle of leadership without really knowing what they’re supposed to do or where they are supposed to lead. They end up just maintaining the status quo and not doing anything particularly useful for the growth of the organization. The best leaders I’ve known have always had a plan.
First, you need to know your organization’s plan. This can be difficult as many organizations are not good at defining a strategic plan and even among those that do; many are not good at communicating that plan to their team leaders.
The second part of the rule is to know what you’re supposed to be doing. Go to your boss and make sure you are both on the same page. I recommend asking him or her how they see your job and what they expect.
2. Know your values and stick to them.
Hopefully, your organization’s strategic plan includes a list of the values that underpin accomplishment of the mission. If so, make sure you are abiding by those values as you lead. More importantly though, you need to know and live by your own personal values. If your personal values conflict with the organization’s values, then you need to resolve that conflict.
3. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.
I call this the three C’s of leadership. For some reason, people in leadership positions seem to think that as long as they know, all is well. Why can’t your team know what you’re thinking and why you do what you do? Yes, I know, there are things that have to stay confidential, but I bet not everything you keep to yourself really warrants such security. Let your team know where you want to go and how they are part of reaching those goals. I’ve found that people will generally do what they’re instructed to do without knowing much about why. But, when they know why, and understand their part in reaching those goals, they will do what they’re instructed to do, but better, and with more enthusiasm. A benefit of open communication is the trust it builds between you and your team.
4. Know yourself – Be yourself.
I’m not suggesting a study of existentialism here, just a little self-awareness. You must know where you have skills and talent and where you don’t. Just because you don’t have knowledge of a particular area, or the same skills as your team members, doesn’t mean you can’t lead. Some of the best leaders I’ve known haven’t been experts in my area of responsibility. They knew that and were able to be terrific leaders anyway.
Why do we put on a different face for our team? Are we afraid of letting them see who we really are? Actually, you’re more transparent than you realize. Earning the trust of your team is very important, and very difficult to do if you appear two-faced. I’ve seen too many leaders who try to bluff their way through. It is obvious, and frankly, embarrassing for all.
5. Be loyal.
New leaders are often told it’s important to be loyal to their bosses, and respect the chain of command. Yet those who issue that guidance often forget that loyalty in the other direction is just as important. Your team deserves your undying commitment. Your team will be more supportive of you and your plan if they truly believe you are supporting them.
6. Lead a balanced life and take care of yourself.
I believe this is the most cited yet most violated rule of leadership. Everyone knows we should take care of ourselves, but there seems to be a badge of honor associated with working more hours than anyone else, sleeping less, and not eating right. I’ve studied and researched leadership for many years and have never found instructions to destroy yourself on the way to leadership success. There is a reason why various laws and regulations restrict the number of hours pilots can fly and truck drivers can drive. Many studies have shown that after 10 or 12 hours, the brain’s decision making ability begins to degrade. There are also many studies on the effect of insufficient nutrition on the mind and body. You need sufficient rest, relaxation, and nourishment to be your best.
Take time for yourself and your family. Your body needs good nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Your brain needs down time as well. More importantly, if you have a family, they need you. If you’re in a leadership position, you’re probably dedicated to your job and have a strong sense of commitment. The easiest way to deal with that commitment is to let it overwhelm you and spend every waking moment working, or thinking about work. The end result will most likely be burnout. You wake up one day and realize your family is gone, your boss doesn’t think you can handle any increased responsibility, (and therefore no promotion), and you’re experiencing health problems that a person your age shouldn’t be experiencing. You can now look back on your life and realize…you blew it!
Take care of yourself.
7. Know your people.
This is hard! Some of your team members don’t want you to know them. Some want you to know more about them than you ever wanted to. As you attain higher leadership positions, the hard fact is, you can’t really know all your people. Therefore, break this into areas of knowledge. With your direct reports, you should make every effort to know as much as possible. You are going to rely on these people to make it happen and the more you know about them, the more effective that relationship will be.
For the next level you need to know as much as possible, but it will start to be difficult to keep track of all the information, especially in larger organizations. I suggest a note system to provide a reference.
For your people who are not in these two levels, your knowledge is going to be less complete, though again, that tends to depend on the size of the organization. You will need to rely on your subordinate leaders to know their people as well as you know those leaders. You should never miss an opportunity to learn about them though.
There they are. Seven rules that, if followed, will help you be a successful leader. They may seem simple, and in concept they are, but in practice they can be challenging. No one is perfect. You will not always get it right and will, at some point find yourself violating one of these rules. It happens. Pick yourself up, learn from the experience, and move on. How do you think I learned most of this?
For a more complete discussion of the rules, and much, much more get Don’t Worry, You Can Do This: What New Leaders and Supervisors Need to Know About Leadership.
