Leadership Is Not A Tool

"The world belongs to the discontent".

First time I heard this quote from Robert W. Woodruff, the legendary Coca-Cola leader , I was part of a team with an incredibly challenging and ambitious goal.

Despite our progress, our leader wisely noted that celebrating success could also serve as fuel to drive further achievements. He used Woodruff’s words to instill a sense of resilience that I had rarely seen in my career.

That moment profoundly changed me, and ever since, I've been exploring the quote's various meanings, hoping to inspire others as I was inspired.

Woodruff's words came back to me during a discussion about how leaders can help their teams consistently exceed expectations.

We pondered what attitudes, strategies, or behaviors leaders should cultivate to ensure their teams are well-prepared for success. After much reflection, we concluded:

There's no one-size-fits-all "leadership toolbox" that can be distributed across an organization.

It's impossible to prescribe exactly what good leaders "must do." It may sound paradoxical, but the best guidance for good leadership is to let go of the idea of guidance.

So, leadership isn't a tool; it's about navigating emotions and unpredictable events.

And it requires monumental effort and contributions from every individual in the organization, not just the designated leader.

Following the discussion and drawing from various insights, I compiled eight meaningful lessons about leadership for myself. While I'm still unsure about certain aspects, I've included links to articles and videos that are helping me clarify my thoughts.

Lesson #1: The most powerful competitive advantage any company can have is its people!

In today's world, information is readily accessible to everyone, and consultants can be hired to provide the latest strategies and tools. Products and services can be replicated to some extent.

So, what sets a company apart is its people - their work ethic, energy invested in projects, and the culture they foster within the organization.

People. This is something that cannot be imitated.

The number one responsibility of a leader is to work hard to retain talent.

Here a short story from McKinsey

Lesson #2: Good ideas are not confined by hierarchies or departments!

A common mistake is managing communication based solely on job titles or departments.

Instead of focusing on where solutions are most likely to be found, we often align discussions with the organizational chart.

In reality, valuable insights often come from individuals at various levels or those directly impacted by the issue at hand. Therefore, it's essential to allow knowledge to flow naturally and efficiently, rather than restricting it to "proper" channels.

A leadership approach that fosters a sense of ownership and pride in the work being done.

See how Pixar addressed this situation

Lesson #3: Interactions should focus on building solutions, not negotiations!

Take note:

Every time we discuss a project, it's important to keep in mind that our goal is to effectively move forward, not to win approvals or ensure alignment at any cost.

While it may seem obvious, many times we enter meetings with the intention of selling our ideas or securing approval, rather than focusing on progress.

This approach can lead to merely "checking the boxes" instead of harnessing the collective intelligence of the organization.

A leader that prioritizes collaboration over personal agenda, and view others as allies rather than obstacles, can make better decisions and strengthen team cohesion.

See here what improv comedy can teach us about interacting with our colleagues...

Lesson #4: Everybody (including us and the Big Boss) needs help!

The very same brain that distinguishes human beings from the rest of nature is the one that creates conditions for most problems we face every day.

The root cause is the biases we all carry and how they affect every single decision we make, from approving budgets to hiring processes.

It's very difficult to recognize our biases by ourselves, which is why it's crucial to listen to other people for survival.

A simple rule: the more you listen to people, the lower the chances you'll fall into the bias trap. Let people help you, and don't forget to help others.

A leader must ensure all associates in the company have a chance to actively collaborate.

See here Dr. Steve Robbins on unconscious bias and other important related topics

Lesson #5: Always assume positive intent!

In my +20 years of working experience, I haven't encountered a person who was intentionally sabotaging things or acting negatively on purpose.

It took me several good years to be enlightened by wise individuals that, most of the time, what we perceive as evil-intent is often just a simple misunderstanding.

Something that a good and honest conversation could resolve in an instant.

When you view situations through the lens of positive intent, productive dialogue flows, and we collectively grow.

Leaders can speed up the work process if they avoid wasting time on double-checking, over-analyzing, or creating unnecessary backups.

Understand the impact of positive intent in building winning cultures

Lesson #6: Working towards an ambition and challenging goal requires daily focus on small wins!

Everyone has a significant target to achieve in a few years: the company's goal, the country's goal, the regional goal, the departmental goal...

The recipe for disaster is to become fixated on the end goal and neglect the present moment.

The energy needed for the long run and the level of engagement required to unite the team to reach that goal are forged in the present, not after the achievement.

Therefore, we must celebrate today's victories as they lay the foundation for the major triumph we're pursuing.

Leadership can enhance productivity and optimism, if they keep fueling the search for solutions and celebrating each milestone of a long-term plan.

Learn here about the power of small wins

Lesson #7: We are simultaneously leading and following, all the time!

Leadership revolves around people, not teams.

You can't lead a team because it's merely a construct designed to simplify our lives.

In reality, there are only individuals – people with their own goals, dreams, aspirations, quirks, biases, and so on.

If we can't grasp how to understand each person within the group individually, we limit our chances of success.

A crucial mindset is to pinpoint those individuals within the group who excel at connecting with people that we might struggle to reach directly and consistently.

By doing so, we can initiate a ripple effect, ensuring that whatever direction we set is heard – and ideally, debated – by every single individual in our team.

Once we've identified these individuals, we must entrust them with our objectives and... Listen. Take notes. Learn. In essence, follow their lead. Because in that moment, we need to be guided by them on how to bridge the gap with the wider team.

A great leader is, above all, a great follower.

See here how to lead without formal authority

Lesson #8: A Leader inspires people by taking action

"Don't rely solely on management strategies." This was the singular advice I received from the boss who initially promoted me to lead a team.

In his perspective, as a moderately successful strategist, I might be tempted to lean on strategies and ask my team to adhere to whatever plan I could devise on paper to enhance my managerial skills.

I am grateful to this amazing boss for imparting to me, at an early stage, something exceedingly significant:

We don't lead through theories, case studies, or "explanations" of what we intend to do. We lead by taking action.

A team gauges their leader's effectiveness not by the words or displays, but by the actions they witness every day, every single minute.

It's inevitable; we scrutinize every tiny move of our leaders. Not because we're overly critical, but because we seek to comprehend the course of the ship we're sailing on.

Therefore, while we may craft compelling presentations, write insightful lessons, share articles and videos, or utilize monthly sessions to foster camaraderie, true leadership effectiveness is cultivated through action.

Everyday action.

Try understanding what constitutes good leadership is futile if we fail to translate it into tangible actions in real life.

Watch here a true leader in action!

You might think that these eight lessons are too many, or perhaps not sufficient. Regardless of your stance, the crucial point is this: don't settle for what you're told. Because "leadership isn't a tool"; it's a behavior. It's about asking, "How can I improve?" It's about being flexible and accepting solutions, no matter their source.

In essence, it's all about being discontented.