Working Woes ......

Uncommon leaders are really at heart, common men and women who gave more to their jobs than their jobs can ever give to them.

You can be that kind of leader.

Today we can find many prescriptions for instant success in leadership. We often hear that the name of the game is to shove others aside. That you can only win through intimidation. Whilst, there are others that tells us that to demonstrate true leadership is to exercise overriding authority and power on others. Some even say that you can even bargain your way to success or to wear the right attire, all will be yours.

On the other hand, it been said that the first half of a man's education comes from studying books and the second half of a man's education comes from learning to read people. The middle or senior level executives that we see today were at one point 'crucial subordinates'. That is, they worked for senior-level executive and performed those tasks necessary for that executive to be successful.

Today, yours truly is posting another leadership strategy; the uncommon leadership performance.   

There are six characteristics of uncommon leaders. 

Uncommon leaders have a sense of mission. They have a sense of purpose. They have a sense of stewardship. They ask themselves, why am I on the payroll? What can I do that will make a difference? What am I here to accomplish?

Secondly, uncommon leaders are results-focused, not activity-focussed. They understand the importance of performing only those tasks that present real payoff opportunity. They have the management discipline that keeps them focussed on the 'KRAs' - Key Result Areas. It is the ability to focus on Productivity, Customer Needs, Economics, Quality, People Growth, Organisation Development, Innovation and New Idea Generation than those who spend time doing a lot of busywork.

Another key characteristics of uncommon leader is the desire to serve the customer. Many organisations are concerned with conforming to its internal policies than it is to performing to what the customer needs. 

A fourth characteristics of an uncommon leader is that they release the power within others. They delegate. And, never make a decision they can have someone else made. It's not that they are afraid to make decisions. Rather, they do not want to forego the opportunity to stretch someone else's thinking, to encourage him to take risks, to build his self-confidence.

An uncommon leader allows others the opportunity to achieve and once people have achieved, their performance must be recognised and rewarded. Human assests are the only assest an uncommon leader have that can truly appreciate in value - people can become worth more. Most people are not truly led - they are simply administered. They are treated as personnel - not as people. Uncommon leaders understands that  one of the key task of management is to find ways to grow people. 

Fifth, uncommon leaders do what they do with excellence. If you do not do it with excellence, then do not do it. If it is not excellent, it is not profitable. If it is not excellent, it will not be fun. And, if you are not in the business for fun or profit, what the hell are you doing here?

Finally, uncommon learders act like they own the place. In the historical evolution of our modern organisations, decision-making powers passed from the original generation of owners and entrepreneurs those who had the vision and the dream, and the courage to make it real - into the hands of professional managers, people who were basically hired as employees. 

Now, you can judge yourself - evaluate your own leadership effectiveness - on the basis of the above points.

Note: Yours truly will be posting more on the subject of being an uncommon leader in the next few days. Please do not miss if you aspire to be an uncommon leader.