While researching for a presentation to a group of MBA alumni, I happened across an interesting article by Rajeev Peshawaria, author
of Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders.
In the article, he argues that most leadership development interventions are misguided,
albeit well intentioned. He believes that what is missing is helping leaders to learn how to overcome the inevitable
resistance they will face in their roles. What’s missing or lacks prominence, in his view, is helping them to discover
their purpose. I couldn’t agree more.
Unfortunately, in most leaders’ lives, there are too many excuses which
conveniently enable them to dodge the real work of leadership. It is not so much that they cannot do it, but rather
they are not energised themselves enough to do it. Instead, they focus on the problem of the day, who is shouting
loudest, oh, and how to survive the latest restructure.
“Real leaders re-energize themselves in the face of obstacles by visualizing their purpose and remembering
their values.” Rajeev Reshanwaria.
Many years ago I shocked my colleagues by telling a new batch of recruits to our leadership development programme
that if they were really talented, they shouldn’t need us. My quick qualifier was that we believed they were highly talented,
and our job was to help them to unleash their talent and learn how to develop it for themselves. After a year, they wouldn’t
need us any more. An unscientific, retrospective view suggests quite strongly that it worked!
Picking up on this theme, it occurs to me that defining purpose will help to unlock the passion and usher
forth the progress so needed today. And actually, you don’t need to go on a high-cost leadership programme either.
If you’d like to find out how we show people how to make rapid progress to give themselves the space to develop
their purpose, please get in touch. If you want to find out how to develop your purpose, buy
Rajeev’s book ― I have! (check out Rajeev Peshawaria
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Posted on 27-Nov-2012 by Colin Gautrey |
