Producing change is about 80 percent leadership–establishing direction, aligning, motivating, and inspiring people–and about 20 percent management–planning, budgeting, organizing and problem solving. In most change efforts, those percentages are reversed. We continue to produce great managers; we need to develop great leaders.
John Kotter (2006), ‘Transformation: Master three key tasks’, Leadership Excellence
My Executive MBA journey with the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, started with a foundational course on Leadership. The course carefully explored the various facets of leadership, equipping leaders at every level with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate and lead effectively in today’s organizations. I’ll walk you through what I have learned, focusing on key concepts and explaining and examining what they mean and how they can be applied.
Beginning the Leadership Journey: Foundations and Growth
The course lays the groundwork by distinguishing leadership from management. Leadership is about inspiring and bringing people together around a common goal, not just giving orders or managing tasks. Leadership is framed not as a mere exertion of power but as a strategic mobilization of vision, alignment, and commitment (DAC).
Photo Credit to Center for Creative Leadership ©2014
This distinction matters because it shifts the focus from commanding power to cultivating influence, encouraging leaders to build consensus and inspire action, which are more sustainable and ethical in achieving goals. Influential leaders influence and motivate others without relying solely on their position or title.
Leaders should reflect on their current leadership style and assess how it can be enhanced by focusing more on influence rather than directive authority. Developing skills in building shared visions and aligning team efforts becomes crucial.
The next focus is on the leader’s personal growth. Leadership development is an ongoing, self-directed process. It can be developed through continuous learning, seeking feedback, finding mentors, and taking on new challenges.
Leadership is a skill that grows over time with intentional practice; it is not something you are born with. Leadership skills are developed through deliberate practice and feedback, which allows for continuous improvement and adaptation of capabilities.
Leaders should carefully plan their growth, seeking feedback and challenges that push them to improve. Leaders must create personal development plans that include regular feedback mechanisms, seek mentoring opportunities, and challenge themselves to improve.
Deepening Self-Understanding and Ethical Leadership
Success in the knowledge economy comes to those who know themselves—their strengths, their values, and how they best perform.
Peter Drucker
Next, the concept of self-leadership is introduced. Self-leadership is about leading oneself with integrity and authenticity, employing strong self-management and emotional intelligence. Effective leadership starts with self-discipline and emotional control. Professor Peter Drucker’s work on Managing Oneself in Harvard Business Review guided me in steering my personal and professional life through a deep understanding of myself. I bought his book and strongly recommend it as a staple reading for every aspiring leader.
How leaders manage themselves sets the stage for how they manage others. The ability to lead oneself directly influences one’s effectiveness in leading others. It establishes a leader’s credibility and authenticity, fostering team trust. Leaders should improve their self-awareness and self-control to set a strong team example.
Ethical leadership involves making decisions that adhere to organizational values and societal norms, ensuring integrity and transparency. It consists in making honest and fair decisions.
Leaders who act ethically create a positive team environment and build a solid moral foundation, enhancing trust and stability. Leaders should continually assess their decisions for fairness and honesty and establish a culture of openly discussing ethical considerations.
Expanding Influence and Embracing Flexibility
Leaders can extend their influence through networking and building strategic relationships. Networking is not just about personal gain but about fostering broader organizational success. Strategic relationships facilitate access to resources, information, and support.
Effective networking can support personal and organizational success, providing access to new ideas and resources. Leaders should expand their networks, use their connections to support their organization’s goals, identify key influencers within their industry, and leverage these relationships to support strategic goals.
A range of leadership styles, from autocratic to democratic, can be adapted to fit different team needs and situations. From more directive approaches to more collaborative ones, leaders should be flexible depending on the situation. Flexibility in leadership style allows for more tailored and effective team management, particularly in response to changing team dynamics and challenges.
Influential leaders can use their influence to implement decisions and garner support for their ideas and vision. They employ various methods to sway the behaviors and opinions of others. One way is through factual and logical reasoning, while another is through appeals to shared values and beliefs. Leaders can also influence their followers by supporting their ideas and encouraging growth. By skillfully leveraging these tactics, leaders can inspire and motivate their team to work towards shared goals and achieve success.
Photo Credit to Center for Creative Leadership ©2017
Adapting leadership style to fit the team’s needs can improve team performance and satisfaction. Leaders should be open to changing their approach based on the team’s needs and specific challenges. Training in different leadership styles can enhance this flexibility.
What we have discovered, and rediscovered, is that leadership is not the private reserve of a few charismatic men and women. It is a process ordinary people use when they are bringing forth the best for themselves and others. When the leader in everyone is liberated, extraordinary things happen.
Kouzes & Posner 2007
Leading Teams and Fostering Innovation
Effective team leadership requires understanding and managing group dynamics, communication, and motivation. The leader’s ability to manage dynamics effectively directly influences a team’s health and performance and impacts organizational success.
Good team leadership can significantly affect performance and morale. To enhance team cohesion and performance, leaders should focus on developing their skills in conflict resolution, motivational techniques, and effective communication. They should also learn about their team’s dynamics and actively use this understanding to resolve conflicts and motivate team members.
Leaders must foster an environment that encourages innovation by balancing risk-taking with operational stability. A culture supporting innovation is crucial in today’s fast-paced business environment, as it drives growth and adaptability, striking a balance between encouraging new ideas and maintaining routine operations.
A culture that values innovation can keep a company competitive and adaptive. Leaders should find ways to support and reward creative thinking and new ideas within their teams.
Navigating Global Leadership
Finally, the last two units of the course address leading in complex environments and across cultures. It focuses on adaptive leadership—being flexible and responsive in unpredictable situations. Adaptive leadership is essential in addressing complex, volatile business environments. It involves being flexible and responsive to change. Leading across cultures requires an understanding of diverse cultural dynamics and the ability to manage effectively within this diversity.
As businesses become more global and face more complex problems, leaders must be adaptable and culturally aware. Globalization has made cross-cultural competencies essential for leaders to manage diverse teams effectively and leverage the strengths of this diversity. Leaders should embrace flexibility in their decision-making and seek to understand and respect cultural differences within their teams.
Through these units, I learned about the theoretical aspects of leadership. It equipped me with practical tools and insights for real-world applications. From ethical leadership to cross-cultural understanding, the course provided a comprehensive base for leaders aiming to positively impact their organizations and adapt effectively to the diverse demands of leadership today.
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