People Follow People… Not Just Great Ideas with Kathy Cramer
It’s no wonder that public confidence in leadership has been declining; the leaders who know how to lead positive are in short supply. But if you look a little deeper, you will find that it is an overreliance on conventional leadership practices, not the leaders themselves, that are failing us. Conventional leadership emphasizes planning, organizing, setting a direction, developing strategies, and then executing. These approaches are necessary, but they do not inspire. Relying on these practices alone leaves out the most powerful act of leadership: inspiring followers to action. And in order to inspire, leaders must be self-confident and optimistic in all they see, say, and do.
I have found that highly effective leaders approach themselves, others, and the situations they find themselves in from a base of positivity. They take the time to see the good in each moment and share positive learnings with others, creating energizing pauses along the path to goal achievement. They collaborate with others to synthesize disparate points of view into a vision that leverages each person’s strengths and speaks to his or her personal motivation. It is easy for leaders to forget that leading is as much about inspiring the imagination and actions of their followers as it is about getting the direction and strategy right.
Join us at the BWS Salon on September 17th to shed light on the question, “Where have all the leaders gone?”
