Leadership Must Be More Than Platitudes

I do a lot of leadership and communication skills coaching with senior executives. And there is one conversation I always make sure is part of the discussion. "How do you want to show up as a leader? How do you want people to perceive you?"

I always get really good answers to those kinds of questions. Which doesn't surprise me. If you can’t answer that question effectively, you probably aren’t passing the various tests and interviews required to ascend the corporate ladder.

But your answer to that question is only the start. It’s the follow-up questions that actually matter more. And I always probe on those follow-up questions.

For example, I always ask the following as a follow-up: "What specific behaviors are you going to exhibit, day in and day out, to make sure you show up the way you hope to?" Many, but not all, leaders I encounter give vague answers to that specific question. And I don’t tolerate vague answers. The answers cannot be filled with the classic leadership rhetoric of “set the example,” or “create the vision.” Those answers always have elements of truth in them, but lack the protein to actually be helpful.

The answers have to be specific. Because it is in our specific behaviors, day in and day out, that will actually dictate how the people we work with will think about and remember us. When we think about how we want to be seen as a leader, we have to not only identify the vision. But we also need to identify the specific behaviors that will make that vision a reality.

Your people will follow you for one of two reasons: because they want to, or because they have no choice. One of those is better than the other.

Have a great day!