Anyone Can Hold the Helm When the Sea Is Calm

Anyone can concur the helm when the sea is calm; Rough seas require transformative leadership

"I am personally convinced that one person can be a alter goad, a 'transformer,' in any situation, any organization.  Such an individual is yeast that tin can leaven an entire loaf.  It requires vision, initiative, patience, respect, persistence, courage, and faith to exist a transforming leader."  Stephen R.  Covey, from Principle-Centered Leadership.

When I exercise workshops and speaking engagements on the topic of leadership effectiveness, someone in the audition almost e'er asks if it's non easier to be a transforming leader when there aren't already a lot of issues to bargain with in the organization.  People word the question differently, but it's ever some version of "Isn't information technology easier to be a great leader when you aren't upward to your cervix in alligators?"

The folks asking the question frequently feel challenged past tight budgets, limited resources, and coworkers that don't run across their personal standards.  They think that if they had more staff, better IT systems, or smarter employees, somehow they could ascension to the occasion and demonstrate greater artistic leadership competency.

Merely it doesn't piece of work that way.  Great leadership is not a product of perfect circumstances.  Great leadership is required precisely because circumstances are seldom perfect.  It is when organizations observe themselves the most beleaguered that they require leadership that is self-enlightened and composed, goal focused and decisive, and collaborative and compassionate.

Leaders who consistently detect that they are foiled by circumstances – difficult employees, unreasonable deadlines, or unworkable systems – should look toward themselves.  They may not have caused the issues, merely they have the power to run across and resolve the challenges.  Leaders can only meet the challenges of hard circumstances by reaching downwardly deep within themselves and bringing to conduct their best and strongest leadership competencies.

To say that information technology is easier to be a leader in a loftier operation, high achieving system where everyone already works cooperatively and collaboratively, is a bit like saying it is easier to be a doctor when the patients are already healthy or a landscaper when the lawn is already beautiful.  People need doctors most when they are ill and landscapers when their lawns need work.  Organizations demand potent competent resourceful leaders when the organizational challenges are great.

Many years ago, when I was hired to do a especially snarly turnaround, a colleague gave me a print with a famous quote by Publilius Syrus.  It hung to a higher place my desk for many years, and I am reminded of it now:

It read, "Anyone can agree the helm when the sea is calm."

Remember Rudy Guiliani after nine/11?  No leader always faced more than challenging circumstances.  Out of an viii year career as mayor of New York City, Guiliani will be about remembered for the grace and courage that he showed during that devastating crunch.

Indeed, anyone can hold the helm when the sea is at-home, merely rough seas require creative,  transformative leadership.

williamswhatefteld.blogspot.com

Source: https://peelerassociates.com/anyone-can-hold-the-helm-when-the-sea-is-calm-rough-seas-require-transformative-leadership/