Here at the Rescue Mission we are striving towards a healthy leadership culture where leaders at all levels of the organization are getting experience and training to run effective organizations in the future. Why? Because non-profits needs more GREAT leaders and the more leaders we produce here the better the world will be. To my great encouragement we have several leaders in our organization who will in my estimation will make great CEO’s and Executive Directors in the near future. With that in mind, for the next few weeks I’m going to focus on 10 behaviors which are key to creating healthy leadership cultures. It will certainly be something we talk about and try to example within the Rescue Mission, but I am sure it will encourage others as well.
There are some behaviors which are characteristics of healthy leadership cultures which are openly discouraged in the majority of organizations because they are either seen as anarchical or at best a waste of time. Yet to have a healthy leadership culture you need these same key behaviors accepted, and even promoted. The first week the subject was Questions, week two was strategy and if/then scenarios followed by Mentoring.
This week we will focus on the importance of a Point of View
There are a lot of differences from leader to leader, but one thing every leader has is a point of view. Leaders know how to take a position on any given subject. They may av oid taking a position too soon, or even be willing to change their opinion once they learn more information. Even with those factors it remains clear that leaders don’t stay on a sideline, they take a position.
Even more notable is how few people outside of leadership positions are trained, rewarded or expected to have a point of view. Most systems reward those who try to fit in, keep their head down, don’t make waves. Once we have beaten all the opinions and individuality out of people we wonder why they don’t have the ability to lead, take chances and innovate.
Healthy cultures encourage people to give their opinions, give honest feedback without fear of reprisal, respectfully question and push those in positions of authority, and come prepared with a point of view on the issues they are dealing with on a daily basis. If you want to create a healthy leadership environment encourage, even teach, young leaders to create and defend a point of view. Are they thinking about why systems work, don’t work or are fatally flawed? Do they have a theory on how to build their department, or to help build the organization? Are they willing and able to defend their point of view?
Help others sharpen their mind, their critical thinking skills by encouraging a point of view.
Do you know how to take a position on a subject? What makes that difficult? Why is it easy for you?
David Curry
