Developing Leadership That Lasts

Joseph Nye coined the term "soft power" back in the early 90's. Nye was the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and a winner of two Distinguished Service medals. He is the former Dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Chair of the National Intelligence Council and is presently a Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor.

The difference between "Leadership That Lasts" and just "leadership" is the difference between an enduring musical group and a one-hit-wonder.

A one-hit-wonder is a musical group that produced just one big hit. The success was never repeated and we wonder, "Where are they now?"

Then there is the group that lasts, producing success after success like The Rolling Stones. Their songs play over and over again and we still love them. The group and the songs never grow old.

One hit wonders have their place, as does "Hard Power". Hard Power is based in command and control. I tell you what to do and usually how to do it as well. Strange as it may seem, many leaders are still caught up in this method of management regardless of the "window dressing" that has been put around it. How many managers trust their direct reports to make decisions - especially big dollar ones? Hard Power has its place when all else has failed - or on the battlefield - the real battlefield.

When you're looking for results over time you have to look at what really works and what really works is Soft Power. What I call teamwork, influence, motivation and recognition. Using basic people skills and incorporating principles of emotional intelligence into our management style.

As Daniel Goleman states in his book "Primal Leadership - Successful leaders inspire people to do great things, they make great things happen. There success lies in they way and the method they use to make things happen"

Leaders help groups of people formulate goals and the means to achieve them. The skillful leader realizes that it is not enough to merely make pronouncements and issue commands. He or she has to get others to buy into the values and goals being articulated.

Managing and leading is a job, not an after thought when all the paper work is out of the way. When an organization is value driven then goal driven management becomes much simpler. Values and goals give you guidelines around which your managers can make decisions.

Leadership that lasts is about influence, not demand. Hard Power has its place. If you are in a situation that requires a short term result and you are not getting it then you have no alternative but to move into Hard Power. The simplest example I can think of is when you have tried everything you can think of to get your child to take out the trash and it's just not working. You can't fire him, but you can implement consequences and therefore Hard Power comes into play.

When an employee is not responding to influence and they force you into hard power then you are about to waste a whole lot of time if they don't make a quick turnabout. And many of us spend so much time managing this type of situation and person that we completely forget what research has revealed - that the best way to get the most bang for our buck is by spending time with our high achievers, not the lowest achievers.

While leading is about influence, we should not forget that we need to manage as well. We know that ninety-five percent of the orkforces are not self-motivated. Many of us manage others as if they were like us and that's a big mistake.

Once the values and goals are in place, we must constantly follow-up with subordinates to make sure the commitment is carried out. The more an employee shows us that he or she is doing what they say they are going to do then the less follow-up is needed. You still communicate on a regular basis, but when you do get together you spend more time creating and less time monitoring.

The whole game of Leadership gets easier under the above scenario. As Joseph Nye says, "When you can get others to want what you want, it helps you accomplish your goals - with lower costs to you and them."

Leading successfully requires the development of goals based on values and areas of importance to you and your organization. Implementing your goals requires developing plans and actions to successfully carry out your plans. Rally the support of others to join your quest for success using "soft power" management style is your key to success.

Some quotes to inspire you to achieving success in your leadership goals.

"Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand." - Chinese Proverb

"What you get by achieving your goals is to as important as what you become by achieving your goals." Henry David Thoreau