A great Executive Leader often goes unnoticed until they are gone and the full impact of what they brought to the organization is felt. It is in that space that one begins to understand that the secret to their success is in their ability to lead rather than direct. Leading means helping others in the organization, through influence and support, to understand and move forward the goals of the organization. Often, being an Executive (if done right) seems easy so everyone thinks they can do it.
After having led organizations for the past twenty-five years, and with my share of failures and successes, I have come to realize that being an Executive is a unique skill set that starts as a learned skill but succeeds because of experience. Grooming someone into the skill set is a fine idea for a growing organization, if you have the opportunity for mentorship, but for an organization in transition or growth it is imperative that an experienced executive lead.
What are those skills that separate a skilled executive from the rest?
- Strategic thinking Is the ability to mix vision, short-term, and long-term planning into the same frame. It is dreaming about a perfect ending and seeing the steps–the grand level steps–required to get there. In my long career, I have been surprised how few people are truly good at this. If someone is formulating a checklist or task list, that is not strategic thinking. It is the wide angle lens and selling the vision.
- Translating vision Motivating those around you to see what you see is critical. The skill involves meeting them at where they are. Language, approach, and mechanism are all complex parts of translating your vision so the vision becomes real.
- Shifting midstream aka adaptation. Cut bait! Knowing when to abandon an idea and let go of the time investment to move to what the next true priority shift should be. There are a million possibilities. A great executive knows what’s next.
- Analytics. Knowing how to read your analytics so that you are not being reactionary, and rather, as a tool to gauge your priorities against results. It is critical here NOT to micromanage, as this is a huge opportunity to have your staff rise to the occasion to share your vision and goals to solve.
- Serving as a liaison between your Board and staff. It is critical that your organization maintain these separations and you, as an Executive, need to serve this role. Messaging to your Board and your staff needs to be controlled this way, by you.
Like a trained athlete, much of executive leadership is muscle memory. And for new challenges, a skilled executive knows how to navigate nuances and forge new paths with confidence.
“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” —Bill Gates