The New Leadership Model

Over the last few years, a new paradigm of leadership has emerged. It is not based not on completion of tasks but on awareness, empathy and teamwork.

The older models of leadership were based on warrior skills, the ability to accomplish goals through others. General George S. Patton, US commander during World War II, defined leadership as “the art of getting your subordinates to do the impossible.” This was often accomplished through a mix of vision, strength, focus and relentless pursuit of a specific goal, with total and blind conviction, while often disregarding the needs of the members of the team.

The new leader’s personality blueprint that has emerged in the last few years not only drives personal achievement and inspires others to follow, but also nurtures and develops a team spirit through attention to principles and each individual’s needs, preferences and boundaries. It has developed through the balanced nurturing of physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual strength.

At the start of the milennium, Stephen Covey, in his well known classic Principle – Centered Leadership discussed the importance of maintaining a balance among personal, family and professional life. He also advocated living by a principle centered core in order to unleash the creativity, talent, and energy within ourselves and others needed as a leader, and enjoy a more balanced, more rewarding, more effective life.

Consulting companies such as Mc Kinsey have been working on creating models which reflect this new approach.

Priority is placed on the development of, first and foremost, self leadership before the ability to lead others. In fact, the most difficult person to lead and manage is often yourself. Some of the greatest barriers we encounter in our quest for meaning and fulfillment are related to our internal conflicts, conflicting goals and lack of awareness of ourselves and others. If you are not aware of your short-comings, internal motivations, and conflicts, they can derail your plans, your career,, the trust other people place in you and your fulfilment and sense of purpose. Self-leadership leads to self-management, and self-management leads to better results for yourself, your team, and your organization

Self leadership is mainly developed through self awareness. It is a very personal skill because it relates not so much to our actions, but to the thoughts and emotions that trigger those actions. With self awareness comes a greater understanding of others and also a higher tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty. This means becoming masterful at working with what you know, identifying what resources you are lacking and making decisions accordingly, with a heightened resourcefulness and awareness of yourself and others.

Two of the core strenghs identified in new leaders are the ability to manage their energy and a heightened awareness, of self and others.  To this, we should add the ability to own their freedom and own their time.

(c) Stefania Lucchetti 2011

Developing Self Leadership

We are all told that the first step to creating success in life is having a set of clearly defined, written goals. These goals are meant to be our guideposts leading the way to the ultimate dream we have for our lives. But what happens as we change and grow? Do we continue to follow those same goals that we had previously? Do we simply stay on track no matter what happens?

While goal setting is certainly a part of defining and creating our long-term success, if all we do is walk in a straight line, along the same trajectory that we have decided to take at some point in time, by chance or choice, without never questioning that trajectory, we are bound to be very unhappy and unfulfilled.

First of all, we change. Every week, every month, every year we change. Our thoughts, our passions, and even our innermost values and self changes. We have experiences, successes and failures that shape and mold us. The key to goal setting is not all about writing it down and taking action as much as it is about being loose enough to realize that goals need to be adjustable.

As we listen to our thoughts at the deepest levels, we will come to realize that our wants and desires just change what our path needs to be sometimes. These goals are an expression of who we are at any given moment in time. Often you may find that what you thought would make you happy is making you miserable – a career, a relationship, a lifestyle. Or maybe you have found what truly makes you shine and are reluctant to embrace it because you are holding on to some goals you set when you were younger.

So what is the solution? Your goals are never your final destination.  Your goals are merely your HOW, a tool, an expression of your purpose, of your WHY.  If you keep walking from goal to goal, you merely live based on your how, but never on your why.  Your never truly develop self leadership.  Self leadership comes from a profound awareness of what your purpose is, for this life, for this year, for this month, for today.  And then reshaping your goals around that purpose – how are you going to make that why happen?

Imagine the difference between walking in a straight line and instead being in the middle of a circle.

In the middle of that circle is a question: what is my purpose? what is my WHY?

Once you have found your purpose, the next step is then to figure out HOW you are going to achieve that purpose, maintaining balance and joy in your life.   Do you see the difference?

Stefania on leadership, women and leading a balanced life