Much of our 360-degree feedback work is done in partnership with consultants who deliver leadership programmes for their clients.
This TED video provides a fantastic illustration of the dynamics of a critical element of leadership. There are some great insights into the shape of leadership in this clip. It illustrates some of the qualities we see coming through in 360-degree feedback reports.
A motivated, engaged team of people is the holy grail for most businesses, and we need the leadership of our organisations to provide the motivation that leads to engagement. There are some great lessons in this video, beyond those that Derek Sivers mentions.
- If the leader doesn’t have absolutely conviction that what they are doing, it shows and that just doesn’t work.
- Perseverance is a critical quality in a leader who must start something new. There’s a reason why the saying, “pushing a boulder up a hill” is so often applied to new businesses or big change projects. Once you start, it’s seldom a good idea to stop. The only way to succeed is to just keep on going.
- The most effective leadership isn’t focused on the leader. That’s blindingly clear in this video. On the surface, the dancer may appear to be attention seeking for the sake of it at the outset. But if you look at his actions, he’s actually seems unaware of who is watching him – he’s absorbed in what he’s doing and his gestures of encouragement are aimed at getting others to take part rather than to focus attention on himself. It’s not about him. It’s about the movement.
As Derek points out – the first follower is in fact a leader. He’s just a leader of a different type. He’s an early adopter of ideas. He’s willing to take a moderate risk and once he’s made the decision to get involved, he’s just as committed as the original dancer. Think about what this means for a new business or project. It’s not just the person at the head who builds the team and drives progress. The first follower is a critical recruit. Getting this right is essential if you’re going to be the best you can be.
Using 360-degree feedback can help identify soft skills and core qualities like perseverance, commitment and vision. It’s increasingly acknowledged that these attributes types are critical for those people who have to lead others. Worth developing these qualities in your people. Here are a few case studies on clients who’ve done this successfully in their business.
Article by Vandy Massey
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