What is decided at the top cascades down throughout the organization. Does this mean then that you can be a leader regardless of your level in the company? According to Harry Kraemer, who is the former chairman and CEO of Baxter International and an author of several successful books, it is about leading (or managing) up.
That is a key part of leadership that is based on values. Leading up requires clarity and confidence, claims the smartblogs.com website.
Personal self-reflection makes it easier to communicate and understand
When your organization is going through a period of rapid and significant changes, this part of leadership becomes critical. Feedback from the bottom is then highly desirable and beneficial. The more people who influence strategic direction, the less painful difficult periods of transformation and restructuring will be.
Self-reflection and connected self-awareness are important. Are you being resistant to change? Are you truly concerned? You always need to understand yourself, your values and how you relate to and influence your colleagues.
Feedback and exchange of information in both directions
Seek input from the people under you – and report your own opinions to the people that are at higher level than you are. It can be what customers are saying or what works best on the production line. All these insights give top managers a valuable perspective. Information must flow in both directions.
The author recalls how he never stopped seeking feedback about his decisions, even when he became CEO of a large company, and people gave it to him. Luckily they didn’t report only negative news. When the decisions brought about positive changes, he was informed quickly as well.
Books
KRAEMER Harry M.: Becoming the Best: Build a World-Class Organization through Values-Based Leadership. San Francisco:Jossey-Bass, 2011. 224 p.
KRAEMER Harry M.: From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011. 224 p.
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