HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL LEADERS: THREE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND SKILLS

PART I of 4

We can be assured of several things: the challenges facing us today will become even more challenging in the future; the speed with which change occurs will increase; and our competition will change. The only real constant we can be sure of is that change will take place. The challenge of the executive today is to create an organization that will maintain growth and improvement in an environment rife with rapid fire change.


Creating and leading an organization that will maintain a competitive advantage will require executives to transform an organizational culture founded on yesterday’s paradigms and ideas. Priorities will have to shift and thinking will have to change. Attitudes and behaviors reflecting new and different social and organizational values will have to be adapted. Adjusting to change for many people is difficult and stressful. Ultimately, success will require LEADERSHIP.

A leader is a person who does just that. He or she leads. Unfortunately, many are placed in a position of leadership yet few rise to the ranks of highly effective and strong leaders. Many books and studies have been written purporting to provide the secret to what makes a great leader. The truth of the matter is that there is no real secret. There are three guiding principles and skills that are fundamental to successful leaders everywhere.

•  First Highly Successful Leaders are AUTHENTIC – they know who they are and where they are going. They set the direction and pace for the organization and lead by example.

•  Second Highly Successful Leaders provide VISION, VALUES AND STRATEGIES to transform their organizations to higher levels of sustained success.

• Third Highly Successful Leaders have PERSONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES which govern their behavior. They lead by values.

Leading today’s organization into tomorrow’s competitive arena will require that individuals and organizations redefine their values and identify how these values translate into a leadership philosophy. Values-based leadership focuses on balancing the needs of the individual with the needs of the organization by aligning the vision, values and resources of all concerned.



Part II of this four part series will focus on being AUTHENTIC.

Part III will discuss VISION, VALUES AND STRATEGIES

Part IV will discuss PERSONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES

Leadership is a skill that can be developed. What are you doing to develop leadership skills for you and/or other members of your leadership team? Feel free to visit my website or contact me directly for more information.