Effortless Leadership... Part II

For most, effortlessness is simply “perception” as everything really
requires some sort of effort. Ok, point taken. However, do not take
things out of context; mind you, you are missing out on something
here.

Effortlessness, in this case, is doing things with the least amount of
effort. This means, when you love your work, it is work no more.
Got the point? Effortlessness exists. And it is deep within us as
some sort of a “motivational” component. After all, “motivation” is
powered by the heart and the mind, so effortlessness being in some
way a “perception” is about the mind. See the link?

In our previous article, we talked about Effortless Leadership through
“leading by praising”. For this issue, we go on to another way of
leading without even trying.

LEADING BY ASKING. All right, let’s get things straight here.
Leading… by asking?? You might well ask, “how could one lead if
he still has to ask?”

Well, well, well. Wait a minute.

Is there a person who has the answer to everything? No, I am not
talking about a “human encyclopedia” where it’s really all about
theoretical facts.

In 2004, Henry Mintzberg famously asked for “Managers, not MBAs”
in his book of the same name. In May 2005, the Harvard Business
Review published “How Business Schools Lost Their Way”, Warren
Bennis and James O’ Toole take on managers’ failing because of
the theoretically-centered education provided by most top business
schools. It would be good to check out Frank Kanu’s “Stop Telling…
Start Leading! The Art of Managing People by Asking Questions”.

Understand that what we are actually dealing with is a business
environment where “change” is the name of the game.

With that, obviously, what you know at this moment could be unusable
by next quarter or even the next hour. Therefore, asking is a form of
leading without even trying. See, a Leader who asks needs to verify
data to come up with great strategies, the best possible decision and
alternative action plans.

Realize that while people needs a Leader for guidance, a Leader
“also” needs people for “guidance”.

“I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.”
~ Woodrow Wilson

We can have all the post-graduate degrees in the world, the training,
et cetera but that is only good for boosting your resume in a “still”
mostly traditional business world...

Yet what a foresighted Leader truly needs is an open-mind and humility
“to take in” new ideas; the courage and confidence “to take on” new
ideas; and the determination and flexibility “to take off” with those new
ideas while handling change.

Remember…
“Management is nothing more than motivating other people." - Lee Iacocca