Dr. Earl R. Smith II

Dr. Earl R. Smith II
Managing Partner, The Federal Circle
DrSmith@Dr-Smith.com
Dr-Smith.com

Leadership is easier to explain than to practice – but when you see it you know it intuitively. My leadership coaching engagements are with executives who have developed some leadership skill and are intent on improving. Many have discovered that, as they rise in an organization, it has become more and more difficult to achieve objectives or remain focused. My leadership coaching approach focuses on the necessary improvements to allow clients to master the challenges that they are facing and prepare for the new ones that an advancing career inevitably brings. Even top executives hire me to help them hone their leadership skills.

Leadership is a special quality possessed by a leader. A leader is one who has followers. That may sound trite, but it is true. The executive who can lead or influence others to achieve their goals is a leader. Leadership also means to influence people to set goals and move towards them.

Leadership is required at every level of any organization. One of the fallacies is that leaders are only at the tip of the organization structure. Organizations function through various departments, divisions, and sections. Leadership is critical in order to have a coordinated outcome from these subdivisions. Leadership may be partially an inborn quality in some people. However, no matter where you start, your leadership skills will have to be nurtured and honed. All of my leadership-coaching clients work to improve their skills. Leadership can be learned.

It is important to realize that leadership skills are different from management skills. Management focuses mainly on planning, communications skills and organizational skills. Leadership on the other hand greatly relies on commitment, integrity, courage, and most importantly on the personal charisma. All these qualities blended with managerial skills form the basis of leadership.

Leadership comes in many in different leadership styles. Some leaders may have one style that could be correct for a situation but wrong for the other. However, a good Chairman or CEO is one who can adapt different styles of leadership for different situations – using whichever style, is best to get the job done. Good leaders have a clear idea of the goals or the objectives and plan to achieve them. They begin by building a team that is committed and able to achieve the objectives. Each member of the team has to be motivated so as to bring out their best performance. In building a team, a leader needs to see clearly the abilities and limitations of the individual teammates. A balanced team will more effectively reach the goals set before them.

When building a team, a leader needs to select good people and then help them to develop as well as succeed. Once teams are assembled, it is very important that the team leader looks after the members and ensures that an environment is created where communications and relationships are good among the members. A leader of a large organization must always check that the processes of management, communication and development are up and working. Just like management and development, communication too is of crucial importance.

Leadership is also about earning respect. This process begins with the assembly of the team. When people sense that the team leader is focusing on bringing together the very best people available, they respect the judgment of the leader and are more likely to follow. They are more likely to accept that the credit of successes will be shared by the teammates. In fact, the leader must always readily accept the blame or responsibility for any failures or mistakes but make sure that the ‘glory’ is spread around appropriately. Good leaders do this reflexively out of an unshakable sense of responsibility. Praise loudly and blame softly is a very good rule.

A leader must also posses some other unique and essential properties. A leader must be capable of taking the risk. Many of the team members will be risk-averse – but the team leader cannot suffer from that aversion. A superior leader performs well under pressure and shows the way for others to follow by example. Good leaders also exhibit mental toughness. They always rise to the occasion and bring out more than what is expected of them. A leader should always be open to new ideas, suggestions, and view points. It is dangerously wrong to think that leaders know all that is to be known. Effective leaders must always strive to learn more.

All of this may sound like a pretty tall order. Some of you may simply decide that you are not cut out for the pressures and complexity of leadership. Do not panic so easily. Leadership can be learned and I have helped dozens of executives master the craft. I have written elsewhere that leadership coaching is my favorite activity. One of the principal reasons is that the returns are so enjoyable. I have watched clients confidently manage situations that frightened them in the past. There is no greater return that to see a client realize that it is not ‘rocket science’ – to discover that they can lead and that others will eagerly follow. It is as if a door has been opened into a vast and light-filled room. A new life has begun for them – and they smile.

If you are interested in learning more about my leadership coaching, send me an e-mail and we will arrange a time to talk.

© Dr. Earl R. Smith II

Related Articles:

• Leadership Assessment – Knowing Is Power
• Leadership Coaching – Making a Difference
• A Leadership Coach – Finding the Right One
• Leadership – Coaching for Leadership Development
• Leadership – a Sense Outside of the Self
• Improve Your Leadership Skills

Dr. Smith is Managing Partner of The Federal Circle. The Federal Circle partners with teams and existing companies. We help them up their game and win big in the Federal space. We also arrange funding for acquisitions and expansion by acquisition. Our model is based on the belief that, if you select the very best and work with them in a highly professional and focused manner, the results will be truly amazing. He is the author of Amazing Pace: Turbo-charged Business Development – a book that shows how Advisory Boards can dramatically increase revenue. Dr. Smith is also the author of Dream Walk: Parables for the Living – a book of Raven Tales and exploration.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 PM and is filed under Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.