Leadership is personal

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There’s absolutely one thing that we are certain of right now … something needs to change with our leadership if we want to survive and thrive in this decade and beyond. What got us here, won’t keep us here, and if we want to move forward, we need a change of perspective. We can’t look to others to lead us; we must lead ourselves.

Whilst 2020 started with hope and renewed vigour, it soon descended into shock, despair and paralysis as the whole world paused and looked at the face of the pandemic. Paralysed with fear, many leaders watched with aghast as the days, then weeks, and finally months rolled by leaving them uncertain as to what to do next. Not sure on the direction to go, companies stumbled, and workers slipped into depression or burnout, struggling to decide what to do next and who to believe.

All except those fortunate enough to be a Maverick Leader or have one leading them. Someone who is a good self-leader and cares not just about the task ahead but can lift your eyes and heart to the vision they see and personalise your experience of their leadership. So that you are eager to follow where they lead because you know it’s for the greater good and that you will achieve what you set out to achieve. You feel empowered when you align yourself to them.

What is a Maverick Leader and what makes them so different?

They are a new type of leader, who once were vilified as too challenging and contrary, and who are now being recognised as the kind of leader that is needed in this complex, constantly changing environment.?

Effective Maverick leaders work for the greater good, stand up for what they believe in, and are known for their blinding insight and innovation. They value diversity of thought, are pathologically curious and influential. People like being around Maverick Leaders, quickly aligning their goals to theirs, following their strategy, whilst knowing that the Maverick Leader genuinely cares for them and is interested in their thoughts and feelings.

Maverick Leaders have always actively sought out the triple win in all their interactions, including negotiations. They ponder on how to gain alignment around the greater good. ‘How can you win, society win, and I win?’ they ask themselves.

It’s a great question for the 21st?Century. How often do you ask it?

Previously, good leaders have relied on their ability to learn and apply the lessons gained from the past. Slavishly following leadership methodologies without looking beneath them to what they are trying to achieve. Using data gained consistently over time, their powers of prediction enabled them to make great decisions in these relatively stable environments. Although change did occur it was possible to predict and was anchored in something that was yet to change.

Thus, making it possible for good leaders to weather the storm. It also allowed the fallacy that good leadership involves getting people to do things that the leader wanted them to do, without the leader changing how they lead.?

This can no longer work, if it ever truly did. Leadership is not painting by numbers; it is a dynamic interaction between two or more parties. It is a beautiful unique picture each and every time.

Leadership is personal.?

The changing leadership perspective

Maverick Leadership is a philosophy that successful leaders align themselves to. It is the combination of who you are and what you do. I describe it as not the leadership cloak you put on when you go to work but the underwear you put on when you get up. It is integral to who you are.?

Maverick Leadership can be found everywhere and within everyone. You do not need the personality of a Maverick to be a Maverick Leader. A leadership title is not needed either.

You see … leadership is personal.

I see this idea of leadership being personal as a dynamic concept of how you lead yourself, others and the resulting leadership perception that has been earned. Together this leads to the leadership experience that you are providing to yourself and others.

The leadership experience that you and others undergo is in the overlap between how you lead yourself, others and how you and others perceive the leadership that you do. This leadership experience is at the forefront of the changing leadership perspective.?

Leadership of others can only begin once you can truly lead yourself. Maverick Leaders know this and demonstrate who they are and what they do on an ongoing basis. They utilise their character and competence and align it with their values.?

Maverick Leadership allows Maverick leadership principles to be consistently applied, whilst allowing the leader to be driven by their own values and competence whilst they seek to align others. The changing perspective of leadership recognises that who the leader IS and what they do is integral to the personalised experience of the leadership they provide.

Surviving and thriving?

There’s absolutely one thing that we are certain of right now … something needs to change with our leadership if we want to survive and thrive in this decade and beyond. What got us here, won’t keep us here, and if we want to move forward, we need a change of perspective.

Leadership is personal and you control the leadership experience that allow yourself and others to receive. Maverick Leaders are individuals that require more of themselves, they are pathologically curious, change eager individuals that ‘think out of the box’ empowering others to do the same.

Maverick Leaders thrive in complex, constantly shifting environments, working for the greater good embracing diversity of thought, and genuinely caring for those that they interact with.

When you start the journey of becoming a Maverick Leader, you embrace the personalisation of your leadership. You remove the constraints of titles and expectations and align yourself to exceeding all stakeholder expectations with integrity, empathy, and passion.

You willingly empower others to become Maverick Leaders and increase their impact and influence and leadership capability.

Leadership is personal, to you and to others, remember this, it is the foundation of your success.

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