Be natural or be a better leader?

I have had many leaders come back to me after a course on “coaching” or “thinking strategically” to say: “why am I trying to learn to do something that isn’t my strength?”  Recently,
Our jobs in HR or talent development are to help leaders be effective.  We have read all the employee engagement studies and leadership models.  We have fully defined “what good looks like”. We have committed to the executive that we will create new leaders which exhibit those organizationally defined expectations through our programs.  But how do we also build flexibility into that development model which helps capitalize on individuals` strengths… isn`t that also what the gurus say accelerates performance and engagement!

I am inclined to say the polishing up what nature leaders is the path of least resistance.  I have little doubt that Steve Jobs participated in very few “leadership development programs“ at the start of his career and yet his natural style, although controversial, drove success.

• Step I is to ensure that the leader is in the right job, not everyone is meant for leadership nor meant for just any leadership role.
• Step II is to tone down the de-railing behaviours.
• Step III is to capitalize on their interests and strengths.

Leadership is about influencing people to follow you and a vision to deliver results.   Although, leadership styles vary, the most sustainable ones are those which: involves, inspires, grows and rewards people for action. Strictly task or outcome-focused leadership has to be going the way of the dodo bird.  People will not follow those styles for very long, and the millennial aged workers for even less time.  A big investment in `training courses` is not always the right approach.  Being highly focused with any combination of targeted feedback, a mentor, on-the-job activities, a special assignment, or maybe a peer buddy could be a lower cost approach.

One of my all-time favourite movie lines was said by Wil Smith in HITCH when responding to a client who was complaining that his new shoes were “not him“. Hitch say “You bought the shoes, you look good in the shoes and you is a very fluid concept right now.‘‘ Trying to be a better leader is like learning any new skill and sticking with a work-out regime. It will feel challenging, if not impossible, at first. It takes practice and persistence.  . You will, however, find a way to fit bits and pieces of those progressive behaviours into your style and shape yourself into your own version of `what good looks like`!