THE NOT-SO-MAGIC FORMULA FOR THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP

Staying ready and relevant as a leader amidst the evolving expectations of different generations of workers, emerging technologies, and rapidly shifting operational contexts is a challenge. It requires what Stanford’s Carol Dweck calls a “growth mindset.” I like to think of it as a combination of humility, curiosity, courage, and vulnerability. That’s a tall order—especially when many conceptions of leading are built on assumptions of vision, certitude, decisiveness, and boldness.

These two sets of challenges are not mutually exclusive. Some of the more recent desired characteristics in leaders are self-awareness, gratitude, and resilience.

An approach I have found helpful is adapted from one of my tenets of thought leadership: Quality output requires 3 – 5x quality input. This has been true for me in my writing, speaking, and teaching. If your “output” is developing teams and achieving results, think of it as thoughtful, rather than thought leadership.

The concept is simple: Remember the adage of “garbage in, garbage out”? It’s also true of “same in, same out,” and “nothing in, nothing out.” When our days can be marked with low-grade accomplishments—178 emails written, nine meetings attended, five forms completed—it can be hard to find time for the true nourishment of reflection, exploration and imagination.

Here are five ways I’ve found to close the gap (without adding six hours to my day):

-?The old saying that “leaders are readers” still holds true. Vary your diet outside your domain of expertise to challenge your thinking. Some of my greatest insights into organizational behavior have come from exploring urban planning and the natural sciences—two disciplines that explore complex systems. History and biographies remind that there’s a lot more to know about even well-known people and events. Literary fiction builds empathy, so grab a good novel and call it “work reading.”

-? Listen up! The explosion of podcasts has made it easier than ever to get a glimpse into a wide range of ideas and thinkers. There’s one (or more) covering almost everything. I have been enjoying legal podcasts as they give me a fresh view into both current events and a different way of thinking from the one in which I was trained.

-??Go to an executive education program. I teach in a lot of exec ed programs, so this is a bit self-promotional. However, I have heard so many participants expound on the benefits of getting out of the office for a few days. It lets them step back to see the bigger picture and engage with a community of peers facing similar challenges. You get to adjust your focus from the immediate to what really matters. And a few days away for you challenges those you leave behind to step into your shoes. Their success is greater testament to your effectiveness than if you’re always on call.

-??Follow interesting people on LinkedIn . In between the professionally sculpted influencer content and the personal updates, you’ll find a variety of people opening windows onto new areas to explore. Shannon Mullen O'Keefe and John Hagel are two wildly different people who always provoke my thinking.

-??Keep asking yourself, “What can I learn from…” your everyday life. How your kid’s teacher manages the classroom. The behavior of migratory birds. The unit on the other side of the org chart with whom you rarely interact. Opportunities are everywhere.

The only sustainable advantage for you, your team, and your organization is the ability to learn and adapt. Learning needs to be lifelong, life-wide, and life-deep.

Links are in the comments. Please share and subscribe (and thanks to you who have subscribed)