In 2016, I was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award by the Maryland Nurses Association (picture with MNA President Kathy Ogle, PhD, RN) and at that time I started thinking about Leadership from a different perspective. At that point, I realized that Leadership could look like different things to different people.
As you progress through your career, you will notice the word “Leader” in many different places. It may be used to describe your current senior management team or it may be an aspirational goal that you personally have within you. For the sake of definition, in this case I am not using the word Leader as a position title such as a CEO, but I am using the word Leader to denote an individual in a position where they are charged to meet an organization’s objectives utilizing various resources including human capital. These individuals may be in “so-called” formal Leadership positions or an employee that is tasked with completing an organizational goal.
In order to become a Leader, you can take formal classes or you can shadow someone who is deemed a Leader. Additionally, there are countless books on the shelves of libraries and bookstores that can be purchased not only on Leadership, but also on the different types of Leadership and how you can become a more effective Leader.
However, I suggest that in addition to whatever formal training or books that are reviewed by you on Leadership, there are Four L's that can serve as pillars in your quest to become a more effective Leader.
The "Four L's of Effective Leadership" are as follows:
Number 1: LEAD – For some, this may seem overly basic since it is the root of the word Leader. However, there are many people in positions of so-called Leadership who do not effectively Lead. These are managers or people in positions of influence who may possess a great technical skill set, but lack the ability to Lead either through lack of interest or not having the tools to be a successful Leader.
In order to successfully Lead people, you need them to be on board with you and share some common objectives. For many, we think of the Leader as someone who is highly charismatic who always says the right thing, however this is not always the case. In fact, this is rarely the case. It has been my experience that great Leaders have a multi-faceted technical skill set (i.e., planning, finance) that is combined with their ability to relate to people of various backgrounds - they have a unique ability to connect with people on different levels and for all intents and purposes, they are likable. Additionally, they are able to figure out what drives people, they identify shared values, and they demonstrate (through word and deed) why they should be trusted.
The best Leaders don’t even try to be Leaders, it's just in their DNA. The converse is also true, some who aspire to be a Leader sometimes fail miserably because they lack one or more of the critical skills necessary to be effective. People in these positions would do well to seek mentors and colleagues who can be honest with them and point out their shortcomings that are preventing them from becoming Leaders.
Number 2: LOVE – Successful Leaders love what they are doing, and many would probably do it for free. I may be pushing here a little but many who are successful Leaders outwardly exhibit a passion for what they doing and it is contagious to those around them. Think about it for a second, who would you rather be a Leader, someone who is passionate and fired up about reaching an organizational goal who is full of energy, positive thoughts and ideas along with being all in one for a project? Or would you rather have someone who sits at the head of the table and in a monotone voice indicate that corporate has these goals and we need to meet them in the next twelve months? Be honest, you would pick the first person because of their energy!
Good Leaders always think in terms of us and we versus I and me. You cannot be a successful Leader if you are focused solely on yourself because it will quickly become evident to those you are trying to Lead. I am not saying you cannot be a Leader and have your own goals, but I am saying that in order to effectively Lead an organization, your goals must be aligned with the individuals you are Leading. If you Lead based solely on meeting your goals, you will quickly lose the rank and file as they realize they are not a mutual part of the bigger picture.
Number 3: LEARN – Successful Leaders are always learning both formally and informally. They are attending conferences along with workshops to gain an understanding of the latest developments in the field and networking with likeminded people. They also learn from their subordinates what is working and what is not.
Successful Leaders usually have an open-door policy which encourages anybody to walk in and voice a concern. This ensures the Leader knows of potential issues early on before they become a major problem. Effective Leaders are not alarmist, but they are realist who operate from the perspective that the team as a group can overcome any obstacle placed in front of them through a strategic, solution-based approach to problem solving. This optimistic, positive approach usually ensures that the team being led moves quickly and takes risks which sometimes will fail but often times lead to novel approaches and fresh ideas. This cycle of problem solving and solutioning provides the Leader with a constant feedback loop that allows them to continuously learn.
Leaders should continually seek out learning opportunities both in their internal and external environments. Please note that learning does not necessarily mean Leadership training, human resource training or anything along those lines. While these learning opportunities are great, the important thing is that the training improves the person. Think of it as adding options to a car to enhance it and make it more comfortable. Training is the vehicle that enhances a Leader’s knowledge base that can then be used to help them improve their organization.
However, the most important piece of learning is what a Leader learns from themselves. Highly successful Leaders always look at themselves to see what they could have done better and try to identify different avenues for success. They are also open to admit their failures to themselves and figure out what happened. This self-reflection really sets apart great Leaders from the "also-rans". The "also-rans" are those who think they are Leaders but are not honest with themselves in terms of their shortcomings.
Self-reflection is a powerful tool for overall self-improvement because most of us know our shortcomings and what we need to do in order to fix them. Leaders will admit when they don’t know the answer and seek out assistance rather than remaining blind to an issue. Self-reflection is about looking within and studying oneself in order to identify those areas needed for improvement. Being brutally honest with yourself is a learning tool that will allow you to become a better Leader.
Number 4: LEAVE – In a culture where we are almost always connected to our jobs, disconnecting and leaving it behind is extremely difficult. Being able to leave your "work at work" is critical to becoming a successful Leader. Sure, we all have those days where we bring home projects to complete in the evening and sometimes on the weekends.
However, it is important to leave what happens in the office at the office. This is hard for some but when you are able to leave work at work, you are able to decompress and relax which is not only good for your overall health but will also help you go into the next business day reinvigorated.
Being able to leave work at work also means you are living in the moment, so you are free to enjoy time with your family and friends wholeheartedly without that mental distraction which will ultimately ensure your relationships become more robust.
For some, work becomes their solace and they do not know anything else. I used to be that person whose whole world revolved around work and honestly, it took a toll on me physically and emotionally because I was always tired and drained. My ideas became stale, and I lost all excitement in the position which was originally my dream job. I fell into a trap. However, since that time I have been careful to ensure that I live a more balanced life so that when I am at work, I am fresh and energized versus being depressed without any spunk.
It may take some work if you are like I used to be, but leaving work at work will allow you to become a better Leader as you allow yourself to refresh and recharge each day.
The Four L’s of Effective Leadership that I have referenced above are meant to be a simple framework for you to use in your journey to Leadership regardless of the type of Leadership Role you are currently in or seek to have in the future.
The journey to becoming an Effective Leader is not an easy one and is filled with a lot of detours and "aha" moments that you will never see coming. However, if you remain committed to the 4 L's of Effective Leadership, you will have a framework for success that you can use to build your Leadership Skill Set.
Nurse Parker
(FYI – I purposely capitalized all “L’s” in Lead and Leader in this article)