LEADERS SEEK CAN LEARN FROM FOREIGN OFFICIALS

I have spent the last two weeks traveling through the beautiful country of Scotland, visiting the Isle of Skye, the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, small towns and the magnificent Scottish Highlands. Looking at my title this week, you might assume that I picked up some leadership nuggets from an old Scottish king or queen. That would be a good guess, but an incorrect one.

Rather, I gleaned some wonderful leadership tips from an article my friend Alan sent me about former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Blair just published his latest memoir, and it was analyzed in The Guardian on September 1 by Andrew Rawnsley.

In his new book, Blair makes the point, as we have mentioned here frequently, that leadership is a journey. One’s mindset about leadership – and one’s skills at the art of leadership- evolve over time. As we gain more experience being leaders, our perspective about our teammates, our customers or constituents, our goals and ambitions, and our desired legacy, will change. Blair’s ideas about how be to an effective leader for Great Britain certainly changed as he learned more and more about the job and its inherent limitations and responsibilities.

Some of Blair’s leadership lessons are worth pondering as we all strive to be the best leaders we can be:

– Leaders listen most at the beginning of their tenures, but as they develop knowledge, they have a tendency to listen less because a little experience makes them think they know more than they actually do.. This is a mistake.

– Maturity comes with the understanding that what we know is not the sum total of leadership knowledge. If leaders can retain more humility, they can continue to listen and learn.

– With experience and knowledge, leaders come to realize how complex issues are and look to others with more leadership experience to help sort through those issues

– As they grow along their leadership journeys, leaders gradually appreciate how little they know rather than how much they know. They crave continuous learning.

– Leaders make sure to surround themselves with people who possess ambition, team attitudes and skills which complement their own.

– Leaders engage in detailed and comprehensive preparation before they assume leadership positions, if possible, or immediately upon assuming a new leadership role.

– Bureaucracies have a life of their own and change very slowly. They are naturally cautious. Leaders working within these systems must exhibit extraordinary patience and keep the big picture in mind.

– Leaders can bring in “outside experts” whenever possible to add a diversity of perspectives and fresh sets of eyes to examine a problem or issue.

– Leaders should always remind their teammates about their ongoing mission, whether for a department, a division or an organization. There must always be a common understanding about that mission among all team members.

– Leaders do not put off hard decisions. Procrastination about the tough matters only leads to frustration and indecision. Leaders can lose their teammates’ support.

– The best leaders do not worry about their popularity with team members, customers or colleagues. They do what they think is right and live with the consequences.

– Leaders must not be afraid of making change. If they are, they do not belong in the leadership position.

– A key leadership job is to function as “The Great Persuader.” Leaders think about the people they need to persuade and what strategy or approach will work most effectively with each colleague or team member.

– Leaders have the power to make things better, but must use that power wisely and carefully, avoiding inertia at all levels.

– Leaders realize that significant change cannot happen overnight. It takes time and a long-term perspective. As Blair says, ““The problem is keeping people with you. If you’re making change, it’s going to be resisted strongly by the losers, and the winners will be unknown and probably therefore silent.”

– Leaders must expect to be criticized because it comes with the territory. Regardless of the criticism, whether from outside or within, leaders must continue to do what they think is best.

Take a moment to reflect on the wisdom shared by Tony Blair in his new book. I invite you to read autobiographies or biographies of other esteemed leaders, past and present. It’s wonderful to learn from history and from leaders who have been through that fascinating lifetime leadership journey.

If you believe this content would resonate with a friend or colleague, please feel free to forward it along!

-Larry