Sometimes, it is better to follow than to lead. You see, when you are walking behind, it is the person in front who has to watch out for the pot-holes, push aside the obstacles, watch out that we are all going in the right direction and keep everyone cheerfully trudging along!
In this sixth of my ten-part Leadership series, we shall explore the risks a leader needs to take.
Out there in front, you are the one who decides where to plant your next step. Every step forward is a decision. Each decision entails some kind of trade-off. That is where the risks start to appear.
No one likes risk. However, a leader has no choice but to forge ahead. What then is the best way to approach this? A prudent leaders always weighs his risks. To take too large a risk, could result in devastation. To take too small a risk, and it will be forever and a day to reach that lofty vision.
While the vision looms large and distant, clear objectives and milestones are the life-blood of leaders. Move towards them steadily, seeking small wins as affirmation and encouragement for the team. Risks need to be planned as a part of your roadmap to success.
This approach is also good as the mistakes made would tend not to be as devastating as attempting to clear the mountain in a single day. Mistakes made are lessons learnt. But to be able to benefit from the lessons, you have to be sure your army is not totally decimated! Clear objectives, achievable milestones, small wins, bearable mistakes – these will bring the team inexorably forward towards the ultimate vision that the leader has.
To not take any risk is the best approach. One that most businesses would love. Unfortunately, if you never stepped off the sidewalk, you will never get across the street. It is the role of the leader to take risks. You, as the leader, have the priviledge of sharing your vision, and achieving your dreams. At the same time, you also have the dubious honor of bearing the risks.
A good leader constantly moves ahead. A weak leader is frozen by the myriads of issues at hand.
In our next installment, we will be looking at fostering cooperation and trust.
To catch up, here are the links to the previous posts:
- Articulate Your Personal Vision As a Leader
- Putting Action To Your Words
- Have a Vision
- Share the Vision
- Learn and Grow
[tags]leadership, good leadership, leadership skill, take risk, leaders learn and grow, leaders innovate[/tags]
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