The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

86 / UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP

Leading from within

Being a frontrunner

People respect leaders who embrace

strong values and take responsibility

for their own choices in life. To

demonstrate this internal strength

you need to be seen to be leading by

example. Show your team that you

have the confidence to take risks, that

you can persist through difficult times,

and that you are prepared to keep on

learning, adapting, and creating new

business opportunities.

The job of a leader is to give others a sense of purpose and self-worth.

This is impossible to do with any conviction if you don’t understand your

own strengths and weaknesses, or if you are uncertain about the direction

in which you want to take your professional and personal life. Improving

self-awareness is an essential part of growing into a more effective

leader and becoming alert to the effects you are having on others.

>>^ Accepts direction

>>^ Focuses on how to achieve^

a goal

>>^ Plans and thinks through

any actions logically

>>^ Thinks any problems out

from first principles

>> Redefines problems and

confidently challenges

issues upward

>>^ Sees opportunities for

action and improvement

>>^ Focuses on practical

actions and implementation

in complex situations

>> How can we achieve the

best result in the least time?

>>^ How can we organize the

actions into a clear plan?

>>^ What are the most important

things to do or coordinate?

>>^ What action can we take?

>>^ What needs to be done?

>> When can we start?

>>^ What if...?

>> Why have we ruled out these

other courses of action?

>> Why not do this instead?

>>^ Who else needs to be involved?

STYLE CHARACTERISTICS QUESTIONS ASKED

Defining thinking styles

TACTICAL

OPERATIONAL

STRATEGIC

US_086-087_Leading_from_within.indd 86 30/05/16 3:01 pm