Recently I had the privilege to attend a Resilient Leadership Seminar in Singapore and there were a few great speakers there. Allow me to share with you in humility what I have gleaned from the great minds of three people:
1. Samuel Lock, MD of Clarion Consultants
2. Professor Chow Gan Moog, Head of Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore
3. Boyd Au, Founding Member of Public Listed Singapore Company, Enzer Corporation.
On providing Effective Leadership:
Here are the DOs:
• Do the best and right thing for the organisation and not for self gain.
• Dare to Dream and communicate your vision to others.
• Provide Exemplary Leadership- Integrity, Caring for others and a Willingness to sacrifice.
• Admit mistakes when I am wrong and sincerely apologise for it.
• Take responsibility when things go wrong and credit others when things go well.
Here are the DON’Ts:
• Lead decisively. Do not lead from behind the line.
• Be Willing to be misunderstood and do not feel sorry for yourself.
• Don’t be a YES man. Disagree reasonably without being disagreeable.
Kenneth’s comments: A leader has to lead from the front. I am actually dismayed when I hear leaders asking more from their employees when they have not lived up the standards they have set. Even simple things like coming on time for work and meetings, if the leader cannot fulfil the requirements, he/she has no right to ask from their staff. Leaders have to be integral in everything they say and do, this is so that their followers will know that they mean what they say and say what they mean.
Another major point highlighted is that a leader should give credit to others when things go well and take responsibility when things fail. This is an act of humility that lifts our team higher that the leader itself; I feel that this is a fine example of servant leadership.
On creating a Strong Vision:
“A leadership has to have a clear mental picture of what is the future state of the organisation. It is a definite goal about what you see in 10 years time… It not only has to be clear, but it has to be consistently articulated and pursued.” Boyd Au
Kenneth’s comments: A compelling vision is constantly important for leaders to rally their troops. It has to be exciting and yet realistic. I personally feel that the leader’s main role is to constantly provide clarity of vision and a strong will to pursue it. Most organisations fail because they have not remained true to the vision that first created the organisation.
My challenge to you: As a leader, what is my organisation’s vision and how is it clearly translated to all levels of the staff? Am I constantly leading from the front and provide exemplary conduct for my staff to follow?
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