Healthy leaders know where they are going! There is an old proverb ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’. In organisations that lack a clear vision and a united direction, people start to pull against each other; it’s hard to make progress. Establishing direction and climate is the first part of Artesian’s 3-part model of healthy leadership.
A key component of establishing direction is having the right perspective at the right time. Professor Ron Heifetz of Harvard says that effective leaders know how to get off the ‘dance floor’ and get up onto the ‘balcony’, to have a clear strategic view as well as an operational view. We often describe our workshops and coaching sessions as ‘balcony time’ – time to stop and gain perspective and recalibrate direction. We know that leaders really need to do this, but it can be hard to make time: an Executive Director recently said to me,’ I know I need to get onto the balcony, but I cant find the stairs!” Healthy leaders need to be able to move from the dance floor to the balcony, to check on the direction of travel.
Establishing climate is equally important. We have recently heard people describe their organisational culture as ‘toxic’, ‘micro-managing’ and ‘energy sapping’. Others describe their organisations as ’empowering’, ‘innovative’, and ‘inclusive’. Which organisation would you rather be in? Leaders set the tone for the climate and culture of their organisations, not by strategy papers or vision documents, but mostly by the way they behave. Healthy Leaders are aware of their own behaviour and the impact it has on the climate and culture in their organisation. They also listen to feedback about their own behaviour, and are not afraid to change how they work in order to keep the organisational climate healthy.
Establishing direction and climate is a very visible part of leadership and will affect everyone in the organisation. We believe that Healthy Leaders take time on the balcony, and know where the stairs are! They are open to feedback and actively work to develop a climate and culture of engagement throughout their organisation.
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