“The leader shows
that style is no substitute for substance, that creating an impression is more
potent than acting from one’s center.” --Lao Tzu
Leadership is both art and science, leadership need both
hard discipline and soft touch; leadership also has both substance and style;
though everybody talks about style, not so many people understand the meaning
of the word in the business environment. If leadership substance is about why
and what of leadership , then, leadership style is the way how something is
said or done, as distinguished from its substance.
Leadership demands the expression of an authentic self. Authenticity
is not the product of pure manipulation. It shall accurately reflect aspects
of the leader’s inner self.
1. If Vision is Leadership
Substance: Larger than selves, than the moment;
then, presentation is style: open vs.
closed; proactive vs. reactive; pull vs. push;
2. If Trustworthiness
is Leadership Substances: leaders keep their word, transparent, and candid;
exploring and decisive; summarizing others’ positions;
then, collaboration
is style: flexible vs. stubborn;
understanding vs. argumentative;
3. If Empathy is Leadership
Substance: Leaders perceive things via multiple angles;
then, communication is style: listen
vs. talk; introversion vs. extroversion; Monolithic vs. Mosaic
4. If Insight is Leadership
Substance: Leaders go deeper; and have self-awareness;
then, thinking process is style: synthesis
vs. analysis; data driven vs. gut-feeling;
5. If Adaptability is
Leadership Substance: Adaptive leaders create a shared sense of purpose and
learning through self-correction; make dissenting opinion compulsory
then, flexibility is
style: open-minded vs. status quo.;
inclusive vs. exclusive;
6. If Innovation is Leadership
Substance: innovative leaders build up a creative working environment and
manage novel ideas to achieve business values;
then,
entrepreneur-style means: Highly creative and speculative, embrace change
and connect dots;; outside-in vs. inside-out style;
7. If capability is Leadership
Substance: capable leaders have aptitude to set up strategy and execute
with holistic thinking and logic planning;
then attitude is
style: confidence vs. hesitation; humility vs. arrogance; courage vs. fear;
8. If effectiveness
is Leadership Substance: effective leaders are doing the right things;
then, leader’s decision making style:
democratic vs. autocratic; strategic. vs. tactical;
9. If influence is
Leadership Substance: Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less;
then leading style is: convincing vs.
controlling; walk the talk vs. talk the talk;
10. if “Globility” is
Leadership Substance: Global leadership is about managing an integrated
enterprise across borders and achieve the common objective.
then, global style is
about: Global accent (understand multitude of business, technology and
global dialect) with intellect curiosity and reflective empathy;
When company
boundaries are blurred and world is so hyper-connected, who leads whom? How can leaders regain society’s
confidence? How can they harness the creativity and passion of the work force
in pursuit of competitive advantage & unique difference in global stage? It takes both leadership
substance and style to sharpen modern leadership.
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