possesses many different shades. Dark gray for example might be permissible in
one situation but lead to failure in another.
Successful leadership is not the product of recipes or checklists; instead, it
intensively concerns itself with the potentials and resources of the employees of
the company and develops them. It works best if employees sense that they are
appreciated at the workplace and if their individual interests can best be harmonized
with those of the company. Creating values cannot be done without appreciating
employees’ work. If authority is combined with clarity, assertiveness, and
employee orientation then it is moving in the right direction. Thus, cooperative
and authoritarian leadership complement one another.
3.2.2.2 Leading People – Leading Humanely
Emotions always play a role when people work together. There are six basic
emotions that everyone carries, even to the workplace: anger, fear, sadness, joy,
disgust and surprise. In companies, often the emotions get on the wrong track. The
very same emotions meant to inspire loyalty and help employees enjoy their work
lead to secret alliances, intrigues and false kindness. Leading employees means not
only allowing for emotions, but also being able to manage them.
The Academy’s systemic approach to leadership describes four important
features of personal, relationship-oriented leadership skills: inner conviction, abil-
ity to make contact, appreciation, and an orientation on resources.
- Inner conviction
Only the person who believes in something – and in himself or herself – is able to
convince and motivate others. Inner conviction is the credo of a corporate world
that others want to belong to, even in hard times. But inner conviction is more
than a set goal, it also means trusting in your own employees. Without the people
who implement goals, they remain nothing but plans. - Ability to make contact
Contact in the form of genuine interest and intensive, open dealings with
employees is truly what keeps an organization together. That does not mean,
however, spreading a warm, soft blanket of harmony over everything until the
smoldering conflicts underneath have poisoned the climate in the company and
smothered productivity. Ideally this is a little bit like a long-married couple: they
argue extensively, but ultimately love each other again. - Appreciation
Appreciation needs to come from the heart and must be experienced as such by
the employee. It makes a big difference if somebody has to perform under
substantial doubts from above or if they are told: “You are welcome here, we
believe in you and your potential.” That is also true if the leader and employee do
not always share the same opinion.
3.2 Leading with Your Head and Heart 127