3...2...1... Lead!

Leadership is DEFINING, DEVELOPING and DELIVERING.

It’s defining expectations, worldview, values and purpose.

It’s developing competencies, goals and actions.

It’s delivering value on a moment’s notice.

If you are ready to take things to the next level--higher or deeper--start your countdown now. 3 Definitions. 2 Developments. 1 Delivery.

3 - DEFINING

1. Influence: is built through competency, credibility, capacity and consistency. This is the inherent power associated with an individual. It is the the “capital assets” a person represents--authority, finances, time, skills, etc. What is your power? Better yet, WHERE is your power? Is it centralized or diversified? All the rage is about diversified investments and portfolios. Is your influence diversified? Do you carry weight in all spheres of influence--work, family, community… yourself?
2. Movement: is the felt experience of influence. Think of it as the cash flow or liquidity of your leadership. Is it sitting stagnant? Do you at least have your influence in an interest-bearing account? Better yet… are you pushing your influence OUTWARD? Influence without movement leads to depreciation and decay.
3. Trajectory: the final piece of defining leadership. What is the end game? Influence and movement are great, but are they pointed in the right direction? Maligned influence and movement have led to some of the greatest atrocities humankind has ever experienced. Identifying trajectory is all about lagging and leading indicators. Understanding the power of long term investments over short term gains. Investments leaving a better world for our kids and our kids’ kids.

2 - DEVELOPING

1. Making Complex Decisions: in a globalized, socialized, polarized, super-sized economic environment, has the ability to make decisions ever been more vital considering the interconnected, interrelated dynamics involved? The ability to make informed, strategic and ethical decisions in “real time” is a core component of leadership competency. Sequential, waterfall methodology has been replaced with agility and flexibility. Decentralization in authority is now vital to the responsiveness of competitive industries.
2. Solving Complex Problems: innovation was once the key to growth. Now it is essential to maintenance. The pace at which modern business changes has made adaptation a necessary component of many industries and firms. Leaders must be able to solve problems created by competitors, industries, markets and themselves.

1 - DELIVERING

1. Value: The 3-2-1 countdown always ends with one conclusion: LEADERS DELIVER VALUE. They deliver value to their families, teams, organizations and communities. Leaders deliver as much value on the production line as they do in the boardroom. Leaders elevate the talents, hopes, dreams, perspectives, opportunities, ethics and spirits of those around them. That’s the litmus test. Do you deliver value from the Starbucks line to the elevator? From the elevator to the boardroom? From the boardroom to the living room?

That’s the LEADERSHIP COUNTDOWN.