By Ian Sampson

I have a Google alert that daily gives new the new leadership articles on the web. It is fascinating to watch the ebbs and flows of thought about what works and what doesn’t in fostering new leaders or addressing issues with present leaders.

 From my reading of things the current thought seems to suggest….

• Leadership lies at the root of any group’s success or shortcomings.
• To make sure that capable leadership exists in a stable or a growing organisation, leadership needs to be developing at least two steps in advance of the present. This is vital because followers need to have confidence in their leaders at all times and this can only happen if the leaders are ready.
• Followers require trust and confidence in their leaders to enable them to do good work each day.
• The leader’s role is to set the direction and keep up standards for action.
• The leader’s work each moment is to enable others through their presence. After all, a leader is someone to whom others pay attention.
• Leaders need to constantly prepare for what is coming up. They do this by establishing and chocking their leadership, through skills building, experience and reflection. The leader’s next work after that is to embrace other leaders and help them grow. At all times the leader needs to address anything or anyone who is causing the organisation to falter.

These insights are easy to list and difficult to act on.

If you need help and support in your work as a leader of your organisation, Cause & Effective would be pleased to explore how we might be able to support your success.

About Ian:  Ian Sampson (B.Comm., LLB., FAICD, FAIM)  is a Cause & Effective Associate. He is a Strategic Advisor to Boards and Executive Leadership Teams, an Executive Coach and a Facilitator of our Powerful Leadership in Action Program