Leadership

I attended a board meeting in Texas.  It is a small board for a company that has been in existence for a couple of decades.  Several years ago the board made a leadership change.  This altered the trajectory of the company.  As I sat through this meeting listening to the CEO review the current year’s progress, I sensed a change in the feeling amongst the participants.  We all have attended many of these meetings as we meet regularly over zoom.   There is a similar cadence for most of these meetings as the slides are presented.  All of this data has been hours in the making.  In addition, there were presentations from other senior executives.  After all of the presentations, lunch, and further discussions. we adjourned.

However, this meeting was different. An overwhelming positive energy underscored all of the presentations and continued .   A portion of this enthusiasm, of course, is generated by the positive performance of the company. The performance has been growing consistently for several years. This year has been superlative.  Beside the numbers, the energy was attributed to the unbridled enthusiasm of the chief executive --- the leader.  His confidence, enthusiasm and positivity were infectious and permeated throughout the day and evening.

 I have written about leadership in past blogs.    Leadership by example is a powerful form.  There are many types of leaders.  Authoritarian leaders demanding excellence through punishment.  There are laze faire leaders, their cool hands off approach has a great feel of independence.  I find this type of leadership to be lacking in the ultimate goal of a good leader and that is setting goals. Leadership by intimidation, abuse and threats.

The most effective leader is leadership by example.  I want to follow that leader.  The one that sets achievable goals.  That enthusiasm and confidence is infectious.  It tells those of us who might doubt the possibilities —- we should not.  This leadership style sets the tone, shows the way and will not be deterred.  This leader believes in himself and the people around him.  He understands that it is the team that will achieve the goals and they in turn develop confidence in the possible.  A good leader demands that people understand the goal.  He or she will take the time to explain and has the patience to restate and review until all understand the pathway and the methods needed to be successful.  Undeterred from the bumps in the road that will ultimately occur, leadership by example is leadership by understanding and guidance.  They expect only that which they can demonstrate.

Leadership is a belief system.  The leader is at the center of that system which is supported by those who are following. Leadership is not only a belief system it is a level of enthusiasm that inspires others to follow.  “Phoning in” leadership lacks a belief system that others can “buy into”.  We desire to follow those that believe enthusiastically in the pathway we are following.

The leader of this company demonstrated this belief system and the results affirm his belief and understanding of what it will take to achieve success.

It is achievable and everyone believes.