Many things are in short supply right now due to cascading international supply chain failures and government imposed lock-downs disrupting global labor forces; from basic goods like beef or aluminum cans to technologically advanced components that are the backbone of our modern communications and logistics networks like computer chips. However, there is one thing that has already been in short supply long before COVID hit, and is needed in this crisis now more then ever; Good leaders.
Good leadership is often the difference between success and failure, and can turn a bad situation into a unifying moment that inspires people to rise to the occasion, motivates them to strive against long odds, and becomes a catalyst for creative solutions to novel problems. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all, and since need is in high supply, innovation is in high demand. All of this means that we need good leaders that can inspire greatness from others, empower them to succeed, and facilitate the problem solving and innovation processes effectively.
To be clear, I donāt mean leaders that are good at managing operations, formulating strategies, networking, or recognizing changes in the operational environment and making sounds snap-decisions that benefit their organizations; those skills are indeed good for leaders to have, are in high demand, and are highly rewarded. However, what I mean by āgood leadersā is leaders that are good at leading people, not just managing organizations or guiding policy decisions.
Leading people requires more then the aforementioned skills; it requires a dedication to others over self, the true desire to empower and mentor others, good listening skills, and an open mind; it requires that a leader both trusts and respects those they lead, and that they believe in their potential and both inspire and empower them to succeed and grow personally and professionally. The overall success of any organization, strategy, or plan is built from the individual successes of each contributing individual, so good leaders understand they have to empower and inspire individuals if they want to truly create a successful organization that can overcome hardships and achieve itās goals.
Good leaders care about the success and growth of those they lead. Good leaders know that organizational success is the result of the individual successes of every team member; that each person in the organization is contributing a unique and vital effort and that it is the culmination of those efforts that is what generates organizational success, not just clever market strategies or management techniques. If those executing the strategies and action plans are not able to achieve success in their individual tasks, or are not motivated to put forth their best effort, then the likelihood that those strategies and plans will succeed goes down; and even if they do succeed, they will not be as successful as they otherwise would be.
A good leader understands that the people they are leading are often better skilled and more knowledgeable in their individual areas of expertise then they are or could be, and that they should be, because there are just too many areas of expertise for one person to master. So, a good leader understands that they will have to rely on the skills and knowledge of those they lead to achieve operational goals, and should seek to inspire those they lead to aim for greatness in what they do, and then empower them to reach that greatness; and then trust and respect them enough to listen and engage with them critically.
A good leader knows that, as a single person, they canāt foresee every potential problem or know the best way to address every problem that might arise; there are just too many potential problems and viable solutions for a single person to handle, so many people will have to be looking out for problems and generating solutions. Good leaders also understand that the operational environment is complex and ever changing, and that this will mean they and their organization will face many complex and novel problems that will require novel and nuanced solutions tailored to each problem to achieve success; that there are often no āoff the selfā solutions to many problems.
Good leaders understand that the best way to generate such novel and nuanced solutions is to have open and honest discussions with and between teams of subject matter experts who have diverse viewpoints about the potential or presented problems, and differing opinions about how they might be addressed. As the saying goes, āTwo heads are better then oneā; so many heads full of many different ideas working in concert are best, because it provides a higher amount of insight into the problems and a greater number of potential solutions to synthesize into an action plan to address them.
That is the foundational truth of why diversity is so important and why organizations need to include people with diverse perspectives and opinions; good leaders understand this critical point and know that diversity and inclusion are more than just buzz words, and how to properly include diversity in their organizations. They also know it is important to check their biases regarding different perspectives or methodologies for generating solutions so as not to stigmatize them and stifle open and honest discussion about problems and solutions; and they also understand that this is a delicate balance between cultivating an environment that encourages open critical consideration of diverse perspectives and methodologies, and that the organization still remains cohesive in itās objectives and that discussions are goal oriented and productive.
Good leaders, as I have been describing them, are the kinds of leaders that inspire and empower others to become great at what they do, that cultivate organizations and teams that are agile and innovative, and that mentor those they lead into becoming the next generation of good leaders. It is this kind of leadership, based on belief in othersā potential greatness, mutual respect, and a desire to engender open and honest discussions between diverse elements within their organizations in order to drive understanding and innovation, that is needed to create the kinds of organizations we need solve the kinds of problems we face; and we need it everywhere.
We need these kinds of leaders at every level; not just as CEOs or in other executive positions, but in every department, every team, and every community. We need to recognize that āleaderā isnāt just a position in the organizational chart or someone who has been granted authority to lead. Leaders, good leaders, are those that inspire and empower others to become great, strive against long odd, and have open minds; regardless of their job title or assign position. In the face of our present crises, brought on by a cascade of complex problems triggered by COVID and poor leadership, we need good leaders who can create and maintain the kinds of organizations that can turn a bad situation into an opportunity for growth, innovation, and unity - now more than ever.