LEADERSHIP, A BALANCING ACT

Leadership is many things. In a changing world where the 'human factor' is increasingly being recognized as vital to the success of an organization, leadership is much more than just 'getting the job done at any cost'. Of course getting the job done is still the first priority but not the only one.

Developing the team, nurturing talent, instilling the company values and culture and adding value to the work place are becoming more and more important in deciding one's success as a leader. To achieve this, a leader has to do a fine balancing act on various fronts.

So, what are these balancing acts that a leader must master? Some of them are as follows: -

1. Result Vs Relationship - As mentioned above, getting the job done is the very reason the person is the leader in the first place. But a leader must also take a long term perspective as far as the team is concerned. Just being strict and using harsh words / methods may get the job done for now but it is likely to antagonize the team members especially if some of them feel that they have been unjustly reprimanded. A leader must have the discretion to judge the situation and the people involved. The leader should ask questions like 'Is my team properly equipped to do the task?' 'Is the time frame given realistic?' 'Are my team members skilled to do the task?' After honestly answering the questions to oneself, the leader must decide the course of action. Keep in mind, the team should not see the leader as the 'management's agent' and the management should not see the leader as 'the team's union leader'.
2. Enforcing discipline Vs Leniency - Of course, discipline is the bedrock of any organization and some mistakes deserve to be looked at seriously and punished strictly. But a leader should avoid getting tags such as 'The General' or 'The Hanging Judge'. Every once in a while, consider factors like how new the team member is, how serious is the mistake and it's implications, the surrounding conditions, how strong is the evidence etc. You don't have to suspend a team member if a reprimand is enough. If a verbal reprimand is good enough, don't give a written memo that goes into the employee's record. This way, a leader will win the trust of the team. Of course, keep in mind - The nature of the offence is paramount over here.
3. Follow the proven path Vs Innovation - We live in a fast changing world where everything from technology to thoughts and work methods are changing. As new generation team members join, they bring with them new ideas. A leader should be able to discern the situation and decide if an innovation is a good idea. While doing this, the leader must be ready for a failure and double efforts.
4. Taking inputs Vs Enforcing own decisions - A team effort must mean that the inputs from all team members need to come in. However, a leader must also be able to judge a situation where time is pressing and own decision needs to be enforced, no questions asked. team members feel appreciated when their inputs are taken and even discussed. Also, a good idea can come from the most unexpected places. However, there may not always be the time or the need for this. A leader should know when.

To do all these balancing acts, a leader should have good technical knowledge and competence in the job, good skills at people management and an ability to trust one's instinct. These qualities can be developed over time and should be kept in mind while grooming leaders for the future.