I am currently reading Jim Collins’s new book BE 2:0: Turning Your Business Into An Enduring Great Company. This updated version of the original book written by Collins and his mentor Bill Lazier is simply outstanding. It is one of those books you get about once a year where no word is wasted and each page is filled with incredible leadership lessons and insights. I recommend you get copies for your entire leadership team. You can purchase a copy HERE or on the image provided.
The first third of the book centers on what actually is leadership and what styles make up effective leaders. No matter where you fall on the DISC profile or Enneagram, you can be an effective leader. But regardless of your personality, Collins says you must be proficient with your leadership styles. So what are those styles?
The following are Jim Collins’s 7 Elements Of Effective Leadership Style he has identified in Level 5 leaders:
- Authenticity – Collins says, “The most important element of leadership effectiveness is authentically living the vision of the company.” Effective leaders are a picture of the desired destination in which others should wish to arrive.
- Decisiveness – George Marshall, the great military and political leader under presidents Roosevelt and Truman, felt “the greatest gift a leader can have is the ability to decide.” The most effective leaders rarely suffer from indecision.
- Focus – The great management expert Peter Drucker said, “Do first things first – and second things not at all. The alternative is to get nothing done.” Collins added, “Effective leaders focus their efforts, keeping the number of priorities to a minimum and remaining resolutely fixed on them. You can’t do everything; nor can a company on the path to greatness.”
- Personal Touch – Great leaders walk slowly through the crowd. They are hands on. Their life becomes imprinted on the organization. It is inexcusable for a leader to be detached, removed, or uninvolved. Avoid the green room.
- Hard/Soft People Skills – This is often the most difficult style to master because it is paradoxical. Leaders must have the personal touch as pointed out in #4. However, to be a great leader you must have incredibly high standards which is hard. But then you must build your people up so they have the desire and ability to accomplish those lofty expectations.
- Communication – Surprisingly, many leaders are poor communicators not because of skill, but because they don’t. Collins says, “Effective leaders stimulate constant communications: up, down, sideways, group, individual, company-wide, written, oral, formal, informal. They work towards having a continual hum of communication throughout the organization.”
- Ever Forward – Leadership is about forward-motion. It is taking people and organizations somewhere. Effective leaders are first focused on their own personal growth. They are moving forward personally. They are never satisfied or complacent. And subsequently neither of their companies.
As you look at these styles, where are you strong? And conversely, which area(s) do you need to improve in?
I can’t recommend this book enough. You can pick up your copy by clicking HERE or on the image above. #CommissionsEarned
For more from Jim Collins, click 2015 Leadership Summit – 44 Leadership Quotes From Jim Collins and 21 Leadership Quotes From How The Mighty Fall.
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