I’ve been wondering recently whether most leaders, especially executive leaders, are actually faking it. They assume a leadership title, adopt a leadership demeanor, weave phrases like vision, mission, EBITDA, supply chain, and market forces into conversations and are acknowledged by their people as stewards of the organization. But are we actually leading? All this wondering has led me to consider a different framework to think about leadership and what makes you and me a true leader who is worthy of being followed.
I have found a metaphor from trigonometry as a way to start thinking differently about leadership.
Most of what we see in a triangle is lines. The lines come in various proportions to each other but what determines the proportions and the shape of the whole are the angles. The length and proportions of the lines are variable. But if we are careless with or dismiss the angles, no matter how long or straight we draw the lines we will not have a triangle.
With this concept in my mind, I’m thinking about a triangle as a new framework for leadership, how I talk about it and how I teach and coach it.
There are the visible lines of leadership. These could be a long list of things – strategy, decision making, organization design, culture, to name just a few.
The small angles of our leadership is where the answers aren’t as clear.
What I’m clear about is that working the angles is what gives shape and integrity to the daily work of leaders. If we get the angles right it is a simple matter to draw in the lines and have leadership with integrity and wholeness.
What also feels clear is that the angles are investments of time, energy and thought that are largely unseen by others.
I’d love to hear from you on this.
What are the visible lines of your leadership and what would you think are the angles?
This is very much a work in progress for me.