I came across a very interesting piece of assessment on leadership by Dr Nora Gold, a writer and author from Toronto, Canada, which is not only relevant in today’s times but in my opinion it is the right way forward. As the piece was interesting and coupled with a latest incident in an institution where an employee in a leadership role had to be suspended, when his rather hostile outburst on his subordinates went viral, I thought it best to post my views on the matter.
Leadership and Ego
When Leadership arrives it brings along not merely responsibility, but also authority, power and though some may disagree, a good amount of Ego too. There has hardly been a leader who has not been affected by Ego. If this Ego is not settled by the leader himself, then an Ego Centric System of Leadership begins to develop, which may give results in the short run, but can be more than detrimental in the future.
The Ego System – An Authoritarian Culture
An Ego System of Leadership is basically a one way affair. The leader calls all the shots. There is no scope for discussions. There is control and the show of power and strength. Leaders here are authoritarian, self obsessed, self absorbed and self seeking, and yes they don’t take the blame either. In such a system performances rise initially, but as the culture spreads and as the subordinates begin to feel a churn in the stomachs every Sunday evening, the performances begin to plateau. An Egocentric Leadership never inspires and believes that virulent diatribes may do all the wonders. How similar to the ‘ hostile outburst ‘ in the mentioned incident.
The Eco System – An Invigorating Culture
For a long term, steady and granular success, an Eco System of Leadership is much more fruitful. It’s a more collaborative and less Ego driven form of leadership. The communication here is both ways, wherein, including the leader, the subordinates too have a voice. There are no power struggles and admonishing of the weak, but an attempt at empowering all. Knowledge flows, there is respect and accountability and no blame games. Achievements are shared. The culture is not toxic but invigorating which leads to a kind of success which is steady, long term and robust.
The New Order
In today’s times, the Eco System of Leadership is the way forward. As Dennis Berry ( a success coach ) has very rightly said, “ The Old Days of leading by command and demand are over “. It’s better to become influencers rather than authority seekers and be willing to accommodate change. This is the new order.
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