Are You a Transforming Leader?
Leadership: Never has there been a greater need for it―nor such a lack of it. With over 850 conflicting and some shallow definitions of leadership published, I am not going to add another one to the list. This e-zine is about (you) the Leader and your skills, not about the multiple theories of leadership. We’ll save that for another issue.
Everyone is a leader at some level with someone. Leadership skills are required when parenting and being a friend or part of a couple, both in your household and at work. You also have the responsibility of leading yourself.
Have you ever seen a four-year-old at the mall who has outdistanced the leadership skills of the parent . . . and you wished the parent would develop some leadership skills—quickly?
Leaders are not born. Leaders are developed. They hone their skills―not in days, weeks, or months―but over years. Except on rare occasions, most effective leaders are in their late 30s or older. Why? Experience, learning, developing, and maturing simply take time. Any winemaker will tell you that excellence can’t be rushed. I recall that in my 20s, I was even defiant about that idea. Now I know I was dead wrong.
Most people agree that to be a successful leader, an individual must have certain foundational skills. Effective leaders are skilled in five core competencies, as documented by CRG’s Dr. Terry Anderson in his book, Transforming Leadership. Dr. Anderson was talking about “transforming” leadership long before the current fad embraced it. Kenneth Blanchard, author of the One Minute Manager, endorsed the Transforming Leadership model in the 90s as the next step needed after his first book.
So what does this mean for you? Simply put, if you have any desire whatsoever to be an effective leader in any area of your life, you will need to be proficient in various leadership skills.
In our research, 57 specific skills in five categories were identified as critical to becoming a transforming leader. Depending on the situation and need, the skills required to be successful will vary. We found that skills are not independent of each other; they are interdependent. In other words, they build on one another like Lego blocks.
The purpose if this issue is to outline the skills sets, not to train you on them. If you identify some of these skills as gaps/deficiencies, I encourage you to investigate further and design a development plan for yourself.
- Transforming Leaders have first-rate Self-Management Skills. If you can’t manage yourself, how can you possibly lead others? The clearer you are about who you are and what you stand for, the more credibility you will have as a leader of others. This includes your values, beliefs, purpose, goals, plans, being a continuous learner, and having confidence and a positive mental attitude. Go to previous issues of Living on Purpose to get support in these areas. (See Archives.)
- Transforming Leaders have excellent Interpersonal Communication Skills. Just being able to talk has little to do with effective communication. To be an effective leader, you must be an effective communicator. This includes understanding and being able to implement attending, observing, suspending, questioning, listening, assertiveness, and challenging skills.
- Transforming Leaders can Counsel Others and are Problem-Solvers. You need to be able to lead yourself, effectively communicate with others, solve problems, and persuade others to own their problems. Do you know how to show advanced empathy and encourage others to specify, own, and be held accountable to specific performance or outcomes? What about confrontation and the skill of immediacy? These skills are required not only in work situations, they are needed every day at home, where your role is spouse or parent.
- Transforming Leaders have exceptional Consulting Skills. The dynamics of leadership involve being awake and aware―not only to individuals but to groups of individuals. In this skill set, you can:
- assess the current state of a team;
- determine the group’s needs, wants, problems, and fears;
- facilitate and overcome resistance to change;
- explore the readiness and willingness levels of the team and individuals; and
- design and implement steps and solutions.
Could you imagine any sports coach being successful without these skills? Of course not.
- Transforming Leaders also have outstanding Organizational Development Skills. At any given moment, you are able to be grounded about yourself; communicate effectively with others; hold individuals accountable for their actions; facilitate team needs, wants, and performance; AND understand how those actions fit into the bigger picture of the organization―and what steps need to taken, when, with whom, and how. You must understand the five stages of organizational development and the steps needed to fulfill each one. They can equally apply to your home life as well as your work environment.
Upon reflection, many of you will feel overwhelmed about the prospect and complexity of becoming a transforming leader. The fact is, most people don’t engage the process. That is why there are so few transforming leaders.
But if you want to rise to the challenge, there are unlimited opportunities for becoming transforming leaders. This is a long-term commitment with enormous rewards. Remember: US President Lincoln was a mature person before he reached the level of leadership skills that motivated others to vote for him.
To help you on your leadership development journey, we have a couple of special resources available. Fifteen years ago, I took this leadership development path seriously. I admit I am a long way from being finished but the number of skills I introduce to a leadership situation or into my life now, versus 1989, is truly amazing. I credit much of this to Dr. Anderson and his mentoring through his Transforming Leadership book and model.
- If you are serious about your leadership development, one of the best resources for you will be the book Transforming Leadership. This 250 + page hardcover book goes into detail on each of the skill sets; it will give you examples of how to develop and embrace each skill. Admittedly this is an intense and content-driven book. If you are looking for something light and fluffy, this book is not for you.
- I have used the Leadership Skills Inventory – Self assessment with many supervisory and leadership teams and found the process invaluable. You will rate yourself on 57 skills plus 12 additional questions on the Transforming Leadership Principles. The report will create an outline of how you are doing in each of the critical leadership skills areas. You will immediately see areas where you can improve. Many coaches use this assessment in their personal coaching sessions with others.
- Leadership Skills Inventory – Others Version. For years, leaders have sought feedback from others to confirm the leaders’ perceptions about how they were doing as a leader. LSI – O can provide that information, with others giving confidential feedback to help leaders better understand their impact and effectiveness.
I agree with Peter Drucker. Transforming Leaders are constantly growing and learning. They don’t appear by accident.
Becoming a Transforming Leader
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Leaders grow and develop: they are not born.
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Everything you do in life requires certain levels of leadership skills.
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Are you a transforming leader? Are you getting the results and outcomes you want?
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What would others say about your leadership skills: good, bad, or indifferent?
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Do you have all the leadership skills you need or desire to get the results you want in your life? If not, what do you need to develop? Summarize why it would be important to develop these skills. What will the benefits be?
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Are you familiar with the five critical skill sets confirmed by most leadership research as required by a transforming leader? They are Self-Management, Interpersonal Communications, Counseling and Problem-Solving, Consulting, and Organizational Development Skills.
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To confirm your leadership skills level in 57 specific leadership skills, take the online Leadership Skills Inventory – Self.
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If you want an in-depth understanding of transforming leadership, get the book of the same name by Dr. Terry Anderson.
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Start where you are with a plan of action. Don’t worry about how many leaderships skills you currently have or don’t have.
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Encourage others to become transforming leaders. The best thing a true leader can do is help develop other leaders—not more followers.
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Until next time, keep Living On Purpose!
Ken Keis
For information on CRG Resources, please visit http://crgleader.com.
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