21 January
2012
Written by Brian Martin
There has never been a greater need for leadership in the world than today.
Just cast your mind around the world and we see not a very happy or wonderful picture.
Economic, social and environmental events and activities do not seem to be working well.
There are riots, civil disobedience in many countries across the globe.
People are not happy with their leaders. Approximately 60% of people want to change their job, and approximately 85% of people are not satisfied with the work they are doing and feel that they are capable to do more, but not given opportunities. Again, this requires leadership. I have heard many times over the course of my working life, ‘People are an organization’s biggest asset’, but then do very little to leverage that asset.
Two things make money,
‘Money makes money’
‘People make money’
During this severe financial crisis, it would have been a perfect time for organizations to review how they were utilizing their people and looking for new ways to leverage productivity, and I do not mean, taking three jobs/positions and reducing them to two. There is nothing new or innovative about cutting headcount. This is where most of us go, when we are told that we have to cut costs. We also cut the training budgets, at the very time when we should be developing our employees, to some different behaviors. Obviously this is something many leaders do not realise as an opportunity and a must.
We should be looking to have leadership inside organizations that harness the brain power to activate and create transformation behavior.
We need authentic leaders, which is about a way of being, that is visible for employees to see.
It is not rocket science for leaders to take an interest in their people.
We only have to ask the question ‘How would I like my boss to treat me’ and then behave against your answers.
I have said many times, there are NOT eight to ten skills of leadership.
I do acknowledge, that are eight to ten behaviors that will considerably enhance your leadership results.
In 1989, when we started to teach our ‘Leadership and Communication’ programmes, we were the only company that used the word ‘leadership’.
Everyone else used the word ‘management’.
Today there are 2500 organizations in the same territory teaching leadership. Sorry to sound skeptical, but many of the people running these programmes have had zero experience in leading anything, other than themselves, which is a start, I suppose.
The opportunity, possibility and challenge for business is to seek out and operate in new and different ways, maybe a need to be socially responsible.
This is a good time for those of you who have the courage, tenacity and want to make a difference, to look at starting your own venture, whatever it is.
Passion is a requirement for you to have, and if you can find a product and service, that adds value to people’s lives, so that you ‘love what you do’ and ‘do what you love’ and be a possibility thinker.
There is a high possibility that you will be successful.
So if you are in the 60% who want to change their job, or the 85% who feel they are capable of doing more with their talent.
Now just might be the right time for you to be that leader, the world so badly needs.
Written by Mr.Brian Martin