Embracing Maverick Leadership: Why You Should Join the Conversation
Judith Germain
Multi-Award Winning Leadership Impact Catalyst: Enabling Leaders, Empowering Organisations | Consultant | Trainer | Mentor | Speaker | Author | +44 (0) 7757 898 353
Maverick Leaders recognise the conundrum that every era defines its leaders who must adapt to the world that they see around them and brings a distinct competitive advantage to organisations that allow them to adapt current working practices and philosophies for success.
In 2016 when I was writing my book The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders, I knew that a new era of leadership was desperately needed. We needed leaders that could adapt in a contextualised manner, who would work for the greater good, who could objectively strategise, innovate, and execute without ego. Leaders that could recognise the patterns of the past without feeling constrained in acting in the present to bring forth a new and better future.
Imagine having visionary leaders that could align others and influence change in the world without the backdrop of ego and self interest. Leaders that would empower other leaders, that recognised that who they are and what they do as leaders was inextricably linked.
My curiosity in what made extraordinary leaders that can change the world around them for the greater good, is what led me to developing the concept of Maverick Leadership. I wanted a leadership style that was future proofed and unlikely to go out of date when the world around it changed.
“Maverick Leadership is an adaptive leadership style that amplifies your own unique ability to influence others, stand out and make a compelling impact” – Judith Germain
In this post Covid, austerity and constantly shifting world where we cannot rely on ‘what we did before,’ to guarantee success, innovation and adaptability may be our only answer. These are key tenets of Maverick Leadership.
What is Maverick Leadership?
Mavericks are leaders who think differently, challenge the status quo, and inspire others to do the same. They are independent thinkers, often seen as unconventional or rebellious, yet they have a remarkable ability to drive innovation and lead their teams to success.
I first defined ‘Maverick’ as a wilfully independent person back in 2005. While researching what made some people good leaders, I realised that Mavericks were redefining leadership itself. This realisation led me to understand that some leaders don't just follow the playbook; they write their own.
The benefits of Maverick Leadership
The important thing about Maverick Leadership is that you don’t have to be a Maverick to use it. It is an adaptive contextualised leadership style, that enhances your leadership capability. Whether ‘your’ is an individual, business owner or organisation.
Here are some key advantages of Maverick Leadership:
1. Strategic Decision-Making and Innovation
?Maverick Leaders excel at making strategic decisions with innovation, integrity, empathy, and passion. This approach helps organisations navigate complex problems and generate creative solutions by merging imagination with logic. Mavericks use these skills to transform challenges into opportunities, ensuring they stay ahead in a competitive landscape.
For instance, imagine a situation where your organisation faces a sudden market shift. A Maverick leader would assess the change quickly, adapt strategies accordingly, and develop innovative solutions that leverage the unique strengths of their team. This capability to think strategically and creatively ensures that organisations not only survive but thrive amid uncertainty.
2. Enhanced Leadership Capability
I designed my Maverick Leadership Framework? to transform leadership capabilities by enhancing impact. Maverick Leaders become catalysts for change, inspiring those around them to achieve what they had previously thought was impossible. By fostering a culture of collaboration and trust, they enable their teams to push boundaries and explore new possibilities.
3. Positive Disruptive Innovation
I know that the word ‘disruptive’ has become overused, however I assert that Maverick Leadership encourages positive disruptive innovation. This enables organisations to remain agile and responsive to new challenges and opportunities. By fostering a culture of lateral thinking and problem-solving, breakthrough solutions can be found that will redefine industry standards and bring competitive advantage.
Consider how disruptive innovations like Uber or Airbnb have reshaped their respective industries as pertinent examples of Maverick Leadership. Mavericks embrace such bold approaches, challenging conventional thinking and encouraging their teams to envision transformative possibilities.
4. Increased Employee Engagement
Leaders who embody Maverick Leadership principles interact with their teams in ways that foster a sense of belonging and engagement.
Imagine walking into a workplace where employees feel genuinely valued, motivated, and empowered. This environment is a reality for organisations that adopt Maverick Leadership. By prioritising open communication and emotional intelligence, Maverick Leaders create workplaces where individuals thrive, and collective success becomes inevitable.
5. Resilience and Adaptability
?In a rapidly changing world, Maverick Leaders predict trends, adapt to change, and drive continuous improvement and growth. They thrive in uncertainty and can work well in the grey.
A Maverick leader sees the unknown as a delicious opportunity rather than a threat to retreat from. They know how to influence others to see the unknown in the same way, thus enhancing leadership capability within the organisation. They proactively seek out potential disruptions, change strategies as needed, and ensure their organisations are prepared to meet future challenges head-on. This resilience empowers organisations to stay relevant and competitive, no matter the external pressures they are facing.
6. Amplified Influence and Impact
Maverick Leaders amplify their influence and develop collaborative relationships. This capability enhances their ability to lead effectively and achieve organisational objectives.?
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By cultivating a network of allies and partners, Maverick Leaders extend their influence beyond traditional boundaries. They inspire not only their immediate teams but also the broader industry, leading by example and encouraging others to embrace transformative practices.?
7. Customised Solutions
Maverick Leadership emphasises unique, tailored solutions rather than off-the-shelf approaches. This customisation ensures that the specific challenges faced by an organisation are addressed effectively, leading to better outcomes.
Every organisation is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach rarely suffices. Maverick Leaders understand this and craft bespoke strategies that align with their organisation’s core values and objectives. This tailored approach ensures that solutions are not only effective but also sustainable in the long term.
Here's a testimonial from a client who participated in our Maverick Leadership training programme as an example of a bespoke strategy:
"We had a 3-day Maverick Leadership training programme specifically tailored to our company and leadership team. We covered a lot in the three days, but it always felt focused and very well planned. We learned as a team and developed over those three days. We immediately implemented new ways of working from a tailored strategic plan we developed during the programme. A big area of development was the ability to look at the core values of JGA and how we can use those to develop overall performance for both our teams and the Leadership group. The effects were instant and very positive, and we are only at the beginning. Judith was direct to the key areas we needed to work on. Her depth of experience within the industry and her professional skills as a trainer meant we utilised every minute to work towards what we needed to change and develop. I would highly recommend Judith and the Maverick programme. We are a successful team and company, but the programme showed us where we need to be heading as a Leadership team and how we can impact the growth of our teams" - Steve Yardley, MD, JGA Recruitment
Why Discuss Maverick Leadership?
The corporate world often emphasises conformity and risk aversion, but true progress occurs when leaders are willing to challenge these norms. This is why Maverick Leadership resonates so deeply with our clients. It's not just about leading with confidence; it's about leading with a purpose and an unwavering belief in the possibility of change.
Consider the challenges you face in your leadership journey. Are there situations where traditional methods have fallen short? Do you feel innovation is stifled by a fear of failure? If so, Maverick Leadership might be the approach you've been searching for.
If you're curious about how Maverick Leadership can benefit your business, organisation or personal career, I invite you to reach out and join the conversation.
?Leadership is not a solitary endeavour; it's a dynamic and evolving process that thrives on collaboration and dialogue. If you're intrigued by the possibilities of Maverick Leadership and want to explore how it can transform your approach to leading, I encourage you to connect with me.
Together, we can embark on a journey to redefine leadership and unlock the full possibilities. Let's explore the uncharted territories of innovation, challenge the status quo, and create a future where Maverick Leaders drive change and inspire greatness.
?I want to help you improve your leadership capability and execution, so that you can thrive in a complex, constantly changing environment. If you want to be the best leader you can be or empower the most effective leadership teams within your organisation, then subscribe to this newsletter (do comment and share), check out my book, read my magazine, listen to my podcast!
You could even hire me to help you make that difference!
You can also:
# check out our website: maverickparadox.co.uk
# check out my mentoring website: judithgermain.com
Judith Germain is the founder and principal consultant of The Maverick Paradox, a leadership consultancy that utilises Maverick Leadership principles to catalyse transformation. Enabling business owners, leaders, the C-Suite, and organisations, to thrive in complex, constantly changing environments by improving their diversity of thought, impact, influence, and leadership capability.
She is the leading authority on Maverick Leadership, an author, C-Suite and CEO Mentor, consultant, trainer, and speaker. Judith is a Brainz 500 Global honouree, recognised as one of 500 Companies and Influential Leaders who are recognised for their entrepreneurial success, achievements, and dedication to helping others and a winner and finalist of several awards.
Full bio and enquiries on how to hire Judith or The Maverick Paradox Team at maverickparadox.co.uk To discover her mentoring at JudithGermain.com
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Master Your Presence For Success. Leadership Advisor, Speaker, Facilitator & Strategist.
4 个月Bravo to you, Judith, for recognizing the need for a new type of leadership and acting upon it! The business world of today is very different and ever-changing! Your work is definitely needed!
I enable professionals to become expert communicators even when under pressure.
4 个月It is all about being agile as a leader in today’s fast changing world and as you describe them maverick leaders have the agility required.
Helping Executives and Funded Start-Up Founders to scale and grow their businesses | Former Industry Award Winner
4 个月This is very informative Judith Germain. Maverick leadership is needed noe more than ever before. We are living in constantly changing and living environments. Having leaders who are willing to confront those changes head on with innovative ideas and solutions are what is required to move forward on the current business landscape.
Sales & Conversion Speaker & Coach - Supporting Speakers, Coaches and Service-based businesses sell at scale using high-converting Webinars & Sales Presentations - Contributor Forbes & Entrepreneur
4 个月Thanks Judith Germain It’s great to see a leadership style that not only embraces change but actively seeks to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible. Your vision for Maverick Leadership as a future-proof approach is both inspiring and practical, especially in our current climate of uncertainty and rapid transformation.
Scale Revenue | Enabling SME and enterprise companies to secure, scale and retain high-value client accounts. | Scaled previous business to ￡55m | Former FTSE 250 Sales Director | Author
4 个月Without the backdrop of ego and self interest, well said Judith Germain. In business leaders focusing on what is right for the business, should be their guiding principle and that will ripple out across the comapny as their behaviours will demonstrate that's how they do business.