I aspire to become a young leader. What should I practice starting today to become one?
The ability to communicate clearly, concisely, purposefully, and truthfully is the common thread in virtually all definitions of leadership.
“Say what you mean, mean what you say”, and “actions speak louder than words” are universal truths.
I posit this in my book, The Power of Writing Well: The thoughtful leader’s guide to business and technical communications: “Communication and leadership skills are linked so tightly as to be one: Managers cannot lead if they cannot clearly articulate their vision. And communications skills are linked to promotion: Technical and quantitative skills soon give way to communications skills in people whose careers take off.”
I have helped dozens of top executives communicate their messages, mostly via speeches and white papers. I enjoyed and worked enthusiastically with those who exhibited other traits of good leaders that I applaud:
- Ideas and beliefs, the central principles which the leader espouses passionately;
- Willpower, an unshakable confidence of correctness; pertinacity, the patience and primitive doggedness to stick to the strategy; and
- Magnanimity, the greatness of soul that is so difficult to define but which is so apparent in those who own it.
I did not enjoy working with those who wanted to further their own agenda, which, too often, was to increase the value of their stock options and the size of their egos.
Two examples, one positive, one negative: I worked with the former CEO of GenCorp to save the company by aligning and communicating his strategy with his directives. (You can read about him in my book The Power of Being Articulate.) I refused to work with the CEO of another company who wanted to sugarcoat, aka lie about, dire financial news.
A final thought. I think of successful leaders as humble, prudent, courageous, principled, fair, and visionary. They exhibit these traits by coordinating their actions and words that are expressed clearly, concisely, purposefully, and truthfully.
