Focused Leadership is a book which provides you a synopsis of the approach I diligently crafted, refined and applied in order to get the leadership results I desired over my 30-year career leading large and small organization in Fortune 500 companies as well venture capital backed start-ups.
In Focused Leadership I have incorporated a series of informative and concise discussions regarding my leadership approach, which I now call the “10-Step Approach to Leading and Winning”.
Unlike most books on the subject of leadership that primarily discuss concepts, principles and styles, Focused Leadership sets forth an array of plausible ideas that can be acted upon today to help you become a more effective leader. Along with the ideas, I also share some experience-based “straight talk” which details “what you will gain” and “what you will avoid” by taking such action.
Over a series of post to this blog, I will share with you my “10-Step Approach to Leading and Winning”. The goal is for you to find value in keeping these ideas nearby and available for those times when you are facing new leadership challenges. Irrespective of your current organization and whether you are new to leadership development or a veteran leader, I strongly believe that you will find Focused Leadership filled with practical and valuable ideas that you can use today to lead and to win.
If you occasionally find a “nugget” or two that you can take away and add to your cadre of leadership skills and experiences, you will have met all of my expectations.
Leading with Intention, Not Authority
I must admit that when I was promoted to my first leadership position I was not aware that there were so many documented leadership styles. From Autocratic to Democratic to Laissez-faire and from Mahatma Gandhi to Winston Churchill to Martin Luther King, there are as many leadership styles as there are leaders. Most experts in the field of leadership would agree that to become a more effective leader, it is important to develop your own, personal leadership style.
Common to all styles of leadership is the availability and the use of authority. Of course, some level of authority is essential in order to achieve leadership success within any organizational context. This is especially the case when it comes to managing situations across and up the organizational structure.
However, my personal experience overwhelmingly suggests that to more effectively lead those in the organization below you to the best possible outcome, gaining the respect and commitment through clarity of direction and mutual expectations is essential.
Leading with intention means that your ultimate goal as a leader is to add value to your organization, gain the commitment of others and develop & deploy all of the talents of your team members --- all while sustaining loyalty. Thus, the Focused Leadership approach emphasizes the concept of leading with intention.
LEADING WITH INTENTION, NOT AUTHORITY
Earl
Cobb is an American “rags-to-riches” success story. Through his hard
work, dedication and faith, Earl has forged an accomplished career
as a systems engineer, project/program manager, and gifted entrepreneur. He is
also a highly respected senior management executive. He has enjoyed over
twenty-five years of success within Fortune 100 companies including Honeywell, Inc., Motorola, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank. He
is the former President and CEO of MedContrax, Inc.
Earl, thank you for contacting me and sending me this post - it is a treasure. You're right, there is so much theory. And you have nailed here a few key practical actions that make so much difference. I'll happily recommend your gift in my Progress Reports www.catherinepalinbrinkworth.com. You are a gift.
Catherine
Posted by: Catherine Palin-Brinkworth | February 10, 2013 at 04:05 PM