Volodymyr Zelenskyy—The Epitome of Purposeful Leadership
Eddie Turner
Keynote Speaker | Executive Coach | Mentor Coach | Leadership Consultant | Best-Selling Author | Master Facilitator | Host - Keep Leading!? Podcast | Panel Moderator | Advisor
Dr. Ronald Heifetz taught those of us who attended his program at the Harvard Kennedy School that “as leaders, you operate without a framework at your own peril.” As a result of studying under Dr. Heifetz, I subscribe to several of his frameworks, among others, in my leadership development and executive coaching practice.
This month marked the 2nd anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (February 24, 2022). Reflecting on the significance of this anniversary, I am republishing an article I wrote one month after the invasion.? This article is not about the politics of the situation.? This is an article written to explore the leadership lessons we can extract from this tragic conflict.? I highlight another framework I subscribe to as a leader—Purposeful Leadership.?
Purposeful Leadership is a robust framework to develop leadership capacity in others.? The framework is documented in “Become: The Five Commitments of Purposeful Leadership ,” written by leading Executive Coach, Consultant, Practitioner, and Researcher Mark Hannum .? I interviewed Mark Hannum on the Keep Leading!? podcast.? Listen to our conversation for more insights. (https://eddieturnerllc.com/keep-leading-podcast/exploring-purposeful-leadership/ )
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has captured the minds and hearts of billions of people worldwide.? He has gone from a name many did not know to a household name known by many.? This gentleman who was known for his work as a comedian and actor working among the ordinary people of his country who went on to become the President of Ukraine is now the heart and soul of a nation and a notion—the notion that people should be free to live in their country governed by democratic ideas unmolested by their aggressive neighbor to the east.? He has become one of the best examples of leadership to surface on the world stage in a long time.? He is on a trajectory to become a generational leader that will live on in the annals of history.? He is an excellent example of leadership and the epitome of the Purposeful Leadership framework.
In the Purposeful Leadership model, there are Five Commitments the most effective leaders demonstrate.? Let’s examine them.
BECOME
The BECOME commitment is the “inner” journey of leadership.? It is the part of leadership that no one sees—immediately.? A leader can often disguise who they are as a person at their core.? At some point, though, a triggering event—a test, reveals the true nature of a leader.? When the test comes, it’s too late to prepare.? The leader must answer the call by what they have put into themselves before the examination.
In Volodymyr Zelenskyy, we see courage and tenacity borne of steely conviction revealed right before our eyes.? We see strength of character that was years in the making.? He was becoming a leader the world would need, and he has admirably answered the call.
INSPIRE
He has inspired people by his ability to communicate evocatively using the skills he no doubt honed as a comedian to eloquently deliver his message before Parliament and Presidents to the plain simple everyday language needed to inspire grandmothers and generals.?
He has inspired his people not just by his words but by his actions.? On February 25, 2022, he reportedly said: “I need ammunition, not a ride!” in response to an offer to try to lead the war for his people from the safety of another country.? His statement may be one of this century's most powerful quotes.”?
The image of Zelenskyy, often wearing army green t-shirts and camouflage pants, staying in the trenches with his men fighting with his people is a stark contrast to his opponent, who is usually dressed in fine clothing and refuses to be seated near those he leads.
ENGAGE
Zelenskyy’s visible leadership, combined with his powerful words, inspired his people.? He has moved wives to leave their precious children at the border of Poland and return to fight alongside their husbands.? He has moved actresses, actors, and athletes to exchange luxurious garb for military gear—everyone fighting the battle with heart because of his ability to inspire.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy inspired not only his people but also others across the globe.? Once it was clear how engaged the Ukrainian people were and how willing they were to fight for their country—even to the death, the world joined in to help, providing military aid in the form of weapons and finances, supporting humanitarian organizations, and aiding refugees, as well as soldiers from other lands helping the Ukrainians in their fight. If the world saw disengaged people, there would be little motivation to support them.
It’s also worth noting that Zelenskyy’s influence even engaged his political rivals in Ukraine to unite with him under his inspirational vision.? His influence even permeated the United States Congress, producing rarely-seen bi-partisan support for actions on his behalf. ?That has since shifted, but it was an extraordinary accomplishment at the time.
INNOVATE
Once Volodymyr Zelenskyy inspired and engaged people, they started innovating.? People began learning how to make Molotov cocktails and other rudimentary instruments of war to help defend their homeland.? People who had never fought banded together to find innovative ways of fighting one of the world’s most potent military forces!? They continue to find innovative ways to defend their land and involve others while toeing the line that would trigger a third world war.
ACHIEVE
Because of their innovative approach to this war, they successfully derailed the Russian army from what was assumed to be a short, decisive victory.? They have fought bravely and frustrated their would-be captor.? They have blown up tanks, taken soldiers, and made them call their mothers back in Russia to tell them what they are doing and more.? No one imagined they would still be fighting two years later!
INCLUSION
According to Mark Hannum, purposeful leaders are also inclusive leaders.? This portion of his research was discovered during the writing of Become but documented in a white paper several years later.
Sixteen distinct behaviors define an inclusive leader, according to Mark Hannum.? Here are three that show the difference between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his opponent:
·????? Encourages a culture where people speak up, regardless of experience or background.
·????? Uses a broad network of stakeholders to test new ideas and new thinking.
·????? Encourages others to contribute their unique talents and insights.
His opponent does not listen to a vast network of advisors, does not encourage dissonance, and won’t let many people get close to him.? Volodymyr Zelenskyy displays these three behaviors with precision and makes a difference.
Another element of inclusive leadership worth considering is that an Inclusive Leader Acts in alignment with personal values in challenging, conflicting, or ambiguous situations. Here again, we see Volodymyr Zelenskyy excel and the importance of the BECOME commitment.?
Conclusion
Who we select as a leader matters.? Had the Ukrainian people had another leader during this crucial time, where would they be?? Having a Purposeful Leader at this time of crisis could be the key to surviving this existential crisis and an essential ingredient in the massive rebuilding effort required in the aftermath of this horrific tragedy.
We can learn from the example of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Use times of peace to develop ourselves as leaders. This will enable us to take up the mantle of leadership during times of stress and conflict more readily and lead effectively as purposeful leaders in organizations, in life, and on the world stage.
In the News
Eddie Turner is Recognized as a Global Guru and the #8 Motivational Speaker in the World!
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Books Available for Pre-Order
Order out of Chaos: Win Every Negotiation, Thrive in Adversity, and Become a World-Class Communicator
Scott Walker
Available on March 26, 2024
??Pre-Order from Amazon: https://bit.ly/3IfPhNu
??I'll discuss Scott's book with him on Keep Leading!? Live in March!
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Book of the Month Recommendations
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??Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/48t02GI
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Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace
??Released February 28, 2023
??Available on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3SZWMNo
??This is the first anniversary of the release of this excellent book by Sally Helgesen! I am honored that Sally featured me as one of her examples in this book.
Keep Leading!? Live
Indivisible
After a two-year hiatus, I enjoyed returning to interviewing great thought leaders again so we can all Keep Leading!? For my first interview, I selected a phenomenal woman who has captured national attention on MSNBC's Morning Joe, FOX, Bloomberg, HBR, and Newsweek. She is also a regular contributor to MIT Sloan Management Review. My guest was Denise Hamilton! Denise Hamilton has taken a word many people learned as kids and turned it into a call to action. On February 6, 2024, she released her first book, "INDIVISIBLE—How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future.”
??January 2024
??Watch the entire interview: https://bit.ly/4901fX0
??View a 3-minute clip: https://bit.ly/49zJRsI
???View a 60-second clip: https://bit.ly/3SVtlvV
??Visit Denise's Website: https://denisehamilton.co
??Get a copy of Denise's book "Indivisible" - https://denisehamilton.co/indivisible-book/
Lead With Your Voice
Would you like to learn how to command a room and influence others? Would you like to learn how to influence without authority? If so, watch my interview with Allison Shapira to learn how to "Lead With Your Voice!"
??February 2024
??Watch the entire interview: https://bit.ly/3Iog7mt
??View a 3-minute clip: https://bit.ly/3wj1TAw
???View a 60-second clip: https://bit.ly/3Iogxt3
??Visit Allison's Website: https://allisonshapira.com
??Get a copy of Allison's book "Speak With Impact" - https://amzn.to/3wzcjwh
About Eddie Turner
Eddie Turner is an in-demand, Harvard-trained leadership development expert who works with leaders to "Accelerate Performance and Drive Impact!"?.
Leading organizations that want to accelerate the development of their leaders to become more effective and profitable select Eddie because he has significant experience driving digital transformation, systems integration, and developing leaders at all levels of organizations. This includes major corporations like Pepsi, Deloitte, GE, and Dell. His work extends to organizations such as Apple, ExxonMobil, the NFL, and the WNBA.?
Contact Eddie Turner for your organization's leadership development needs!
(312) 287-9800
Areas of Expertise
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Top 10 Ranked Motivational Speaker in the World—Global Gurus | Preeminent Authority on Emerging Leaders—Forbes | Certified Executive Coach | International Best-Selling Author | Master Facilitator | Host of the Keep Leading!? Podcast | Member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches | #ICFCoachoftheWeek | Top 25 Thought Leader—Thinkers360 | Top 15 Biggest Voice in Leadership to Watch for 2023—leadersHum | Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Alum: Public Leadership | Top Global Mentor for 2022 - IFLD
Executive Coach | MBA Professor | Ex-Global CFO
8 个月Inspiring read, looking forward to diving into it!