What is the key to successful leadership?

By Valarie Willis

Q: I have always thought that the key to successful leadership is influence, not authority. Do you agree?

A: The answer to that question, it seems to me, lies in whether the goal is to get others to work from a place of compliance or from a place of commitment. I believe that is the difference between influential leadership and authoritative leadership. Working within an influential leadership model, committed employees will give up discretionary time to solve problems, serve customers, and think creatively. On the other hand, people working under authoritative leadership or command-and-control, as we more commonly know it will work to achieve compliance, doing only what needs to be done to get by.

It is well documented that organisations perform better when all employees work collaboratively across organisational lines and are allowed to voice their opinions and have healthy open discussions. Leaders who are great at listening to diverse opinions and can facilitate teams in moving toward solutions–without 'telling' team members what to do–are leaders of influence that can create positive working environments, remove organisational obstacles and provide tools employees need to perform their jobs effectively. Influential leaders create environments that are:

Trusting

Collaborative

Open

Sharing

In return, employees will use their talents and skills to achieve the mission and vision of the organisation. This is especially true of younger workers coming into the workforce today who do not respond well to command-and-control leaders or to those who merely exert their authority. They want freedom and control over their areas of responsibility and to use their talents and skills to solve problems.

Gen X and Gen Y are motivated through teamwork, with fewer rules and goals. What they don't want is to be micro- managed by a leader constantly telling them what to do and how to do it. Authoritative leaders who attempt to control the organisation and the people who work in it will find that employees disengage and are less committed to helping the organisation achieve its goals. Leading from a place of authority does not create the trusting environment required for success. Instead, it often leads to second-guessing, potential hidden agendas and a less productive workforce.

Effective leaders help people understand how their contributions fit into the broader vision and inspire the team to achieve the greater good of the organisation. Inspiration is not mandated, dictated or driven by authority. It is achieved by enlisting others, touching the hearts of employees while engaging their brains–through the influence of leaders.

While authoritative leadership only has room for one leader, influential leadership allows the leader in everyone to be brought forward. In todays fast-paced, rapidly changing environment, everyone has to be a leader.

Sometimes we choose to lead and in other circumstances we are pushed into leadership. Whether you want to lead or are selected, how you demonstrate your leadership will determine how successful you will be and how successful those who follow you will become.

Successful leadership is a demonstration of a true example. We lead by the example we set. If you expound on virtues or techniques that you do not follow or demonstrate yourself, those who follow your leadership will fail and then wonder why. This can only reflect badly on you as the leader. Teach - and live what you teach - to be the type of leader who will stand the test of time.

So how are great leaders made? Consider these tried-and-true principles of leadership as demonstrated by leaders worldwide.

Leaders learn. They understand that the moment they become un-teachable, they lose their edge in the world. Leaders not only understand that they must continue to find opportunities to learn, they crave every chance to do so. Brian Tracey, a nationally recognized guru on leadership, encourages those seeking leadership success to read at least one hour every day. He states that one hour a day will make you a nationally recognised leader within three years. Commit to learning for the rest of your life and embrace the opportunity to do so.

Leaders listen. They understand the difference between passively hearing and actively listening to what people are telling them.

(Extracted from the internet.)