I have enjoyed my many years in leadership and in sharing information. From managing large apartment community portfolios to leading a team at a four diamond resort one thing is constant...the importance of effective leadership. To the thousands who read my blog and the hundreds that have worked with me over the years, you also know how much I cherish sharing information with the intent of assisting others to exceed and excel.
Management is accomplishing results and meeting objectives through other peoples actions. Leadership is allowing others to have the ability and empowering them to accomplish these results. It means not only leading by example but more importantly leading so others want to follow, hence the true definition of leadership. The basic philosophy shows the transition from management to leadership has some distinct characteristics. In a management position your direction and interaction with those that work with you is more "hands on" by a relation of 70% to 30%. As you transition to leader you will find this reverses if you hire the right people and lead through empowerment. This comes with training, allowing people to make mistakes, support and review of decisions, and effective communication. You have heard me talk in both my leadership book and my best seller in property management how the PDSA system is an effective tool in leadership and in making decisions. What is PDSA you ask? It basically means formulating a PLAN, Do what you planned, STUDY the results and efficacy in reaching the goal or objective, and ACT to make adjustments to stay on task and in reaching the intended goal. Lee Iacocca once was asked how he was able to turn the Chrysler Corporation around and out of bankruptcy and what led to his success. He responded by saying, "I did not do it! We did it! I simply identified the successful people that could get the job done and empowered them to do it!"
As an example in property management we emphasize management of our communities...without guiding others as leaders and wonder why we do not have more true leaders in the ranks. We give you the responsibility for a multi-million dollar investment without showing you how empowerment all the way down the line of positions makes everyone more accountable. You basically act as chief financial officer, facility manager, public relations director, customer service manager, marketing and development manager, and occasionally therapist and dog catcher. We teach you and support training for you to address all these areas, and unfortunately forget to teach you to be mayor or a true leader of your community and team. Managers will often say, "If I want it done right, I will do it myself." Leaders say, "If I want it done right I will find and train the right person.
There are several truths of ineffective leaders or those that do not incorporate leadership and empowerment into their leadership style.
- We cannot do it all ourselves and if you try, you will burn yourself out.
- We avoid allowing others the sense of accomplishment because we do not understand the true benefits of empowerment.
- We eliminate the potential for a motivational environment. People want to feel they are a part of something and can hold their heads high when there is a successful endeavor.
- We don't always have the best answer or know the best way of doing something. By not realizing this it narrows how a task can be completed and does not allow for a motivational environment.
Leadership is not how successful your operation is when you are there. Successful leadership is empowering others so that goals are met even if you are a thousand miles away. I will repeat the poem in my book which hundreds have said inspired them and for which I truly believe
I saw them tearing a building down, a gang of men in my hometown.
With a heave and a ho and a yes, yes yell, they swung at a beam and a sidewall fell
I asked the foreman if these men were skilled, the same needed if you had to build
He said oh no indeed, the most common laborer is all I need
For you see I can tear down in a day or two, what it took others years to do
Now I asked myself as I walked away, which of these roles am I willing to play
Am I one who is tearing down, as I carelessly make my way around.
Or am I one who builds with care, so my team and those around me are better because I had been there.
Now go lead.
