Effective Leadership - Do you hang with the pack?
You may have seen this photo before, but it’s such a good way to visually show effective leadership skills at work!
The three wolves in front are old, and setting the pace for those behind, ensuring they don’t get left behind themselves! The next five are the strongest and fittest. Their role is to protect the whole group. In the middle we have the largest group who are pretty much protected from any attack. The last group are also strong and fit and positioned to protect the group from the rear.
The last wolf is the leader. His role is making sure no one is left behind. He keeps them all moving in unison, on the same path, and is both able and prepared to move in any direction to protect the pack. This is symbolic of the theory that being a great leader is not always about being in the front - the ‘visible’ leader. It’s about taking care of your team.
Now, of course, we have no way of knowing if this interpretation is close to the truth or complete fabrication. But it does kind of make good sense, doesn’t it?
Animals have innate survival behaviours developed to protect the whole pack. And the wolves’ behaviour displays traits that can be effectively replicated in our businesses today.
If we compare those behaviours to that of teams within a large business, the front running group could be the directors, management and investors. Possibly older, slower and less in touch with modern technologies. They’re sometimes removed from what’s actually happening at other levels. They feel like leaders, behave like the leaders they remember, and rarely look back at what’s happening behind them.
The second group could be likened to middle management. They're tasked with following the leaders closely, whilst also trying to manage the group behind. This group are often too busy to develop their own skills, develop new ideas, or learn, as they feel under too much pressure.
The largest group is the workforce , the main hub of activity in terms of productivity. They can be found with their heads down, meeting deadlines and fulfilling projects. This group of employees IS the business .
The last group are the disengaged members of the business . Those who once looked to try and catch up to the first group to share ideas and suggest new ways of doing things; but were told to just do as they were told and not interfere. This group are often looking for a way out, and are tired of being undervalued and unappreciated.
Is it time to re-evaluate your leadership skills?
Are you leading from the front? Are you pulling but never looking back? Or are you the kind of leader who runs with middle management? Maybe you're at the back, making sure the most vulnerable, at risk group, feel included and valued?
There’s a simple tool for checking your abilities as a leader. Ask others! Ask your team, clients, and peers for honest feedback, anonymous if necessary. Never assume you know it all, we should always be willing to learn and improve.
True leaders have one thing in common - the ability to reflect. It’s only by asking questions of yourself, procedures and industry that you can improve.
If you think you could do with a refresher on Leadership Skills book onto our CPD Approved online course now.
