Thinking about this over the last few days after spending time listening to a client present their new strategic direction to a room full of managers in the business. It has illuminated for me the importance of purpose and meaning if you want to be a courageous leader - it is not about staying in the safe place by developing a strategic direction where you want to be #1 in your market niche or maximise the return to your shareholders or other critical stakeholder group. Courageous leaders make sure the business brings purpose and meaning to everyone working in the business!
After the presentation I had one of the managers from the audience explain how he was concerned about "selling" this direction to the lowest level of people in his team - who have taken pay cuts, are working long hours and have been asked to take unpaid leave - all thanks to the GFC! And now he has to sell to them that they need to continue doing this as the business strives to maximise revenue, be #1 in their market niche and maximise returns to the shareholders - why would they want to get excited and what do they have to "believe" in? I think this is a critical question.......
If you are striving to be a Courageous Leader then it is imperative that you keep challenging the status quo and seek out the purpose that brings meaning to everyone in the business. And along the way as a leader you need to develop your OWN purpose and meaning!
The path of a courageous leader is not an easy one!
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