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3 Essential Actions to Finally Start Turning Leadership Traction Into Liftoff

May 5, 2016 Jeff Lesher

leadership_actions.jpg

Actions speak louder than words, especially in a world where “do as I say, not as I do” is far too common. You’d think the preferable option would be obvious to anyone talented enough to rise to a level of leadership, but that assumption too often is an errant one. Incredibly smart, well-intentioned leaders regularly come to us with the frustration they feel when their words about what they want their organizations to be don’t manifest themselves as results.

The good news is this lack of connection is relatively simple to remedy. Bear in mind simple isn’t necessarily easy. With clarity and consistent effort, things will get better. How much better depends on the quality of your team, the commitment of your leadership, and the willingness of everyone to hold themselves and others to the same standards of excellence.

The actions most often needed include:

• Common, meaningful language—The creation of language to include the types of actions expected and the resources needed to support the skills and habits is a big step forward. It’s not enough to have a bunch of labels, because those labels need to be defined and defined behaviorally.

• Shared ownership—Too many leaders fall into the trap of trying to run everything in their companies directly. This is a recipe for lots of things – none of them good, which may include overwork, loss of focus, and an assured lack of development and allowance for innovation and responsibility for individual analysis and problem-solving.

• Accountability—Not to be confused with “blame,” we can better influence and recognize actions and their impacts when people are responsible for mutually agreed-to inputs and outputs. Recent studies at the Wharton School and New York and Columbia Universities indicate that the “what” and the “how” aspects of how we position and deliver feedback related to specific performance metrics go a long way to determining the level of their future performance and contribution.

As leaders, we have to be in touch with the fact that it’s not enough to say something and expect the results we desire and intend. Words are the beginning, and need to be embedded in our processes. This includes how we do our work and the outcomes that need to occur to achieve progress and success. Iteration and reiteration of why the organization exists and how people can and should connect to it and carry out its vision is an ongoing, everyday effort … a labor of love, so to speak.

When the actions inspired by words and the beliefs they reflect are part of the very fabric of your company, your dedication and patience will be rewarded by seeing your people take flight. The business then can soar as high as they do.

From words, to action; from traction, to lift off – you have the ability to influence your collective success when you choose to build on words rather than rely on them alone.

TOPICS: Leadership Development