It may be difficult for you to find out whether you are a truly successful leader. Ask yourself: do you meet your targets? Then ask yourself again: do you have an enduring, positive influence on the people around you? This is how you should assess leadership. In order to do so, three distinctive views must be integrated, according to an article on the strategy-business.com website whose author writes frequently about leadership.
1. The measure of “now”
This measure may actually be the least revealing view – at least unless it is properly contextualised. Now is measured by your key performance indicators. Did you achieve your targets, did you exceed your annual goals? And how about the turnover rate in your department? Remember: the best leaders meet short-term objectives and manage to build long-term capacity at the same time.
If you are not careful, tomorrow might be sacrificed for gains today. The author recalls how one manager felt sorry that the company he worked for, which used to be full of energy and enthusiasm, gradually became toxic as the partners sought to cut internal costs in order to have more funds. More and more people were squeezed out of the company. Mission-focused culture was completely forced out for the sake of short-term aims.
2) Second measure – looking forward
Where do you and your company want to be in five, ten or 20 years? Leading well now also requires an understanding of what you want your ultimate impact to be. It will be an accumulation of everything you have done. You are leaving an imprint on the people you lead every day. And that’s it. Invest time and energy in the development of others, help them to stretch themselves and grow. Cultivate value, don’t just extract it.
3) Third measure – looking back
This is an exercise in looking at the lasting value of what you have done in your role. True leaders develop a strong team that carries on and continues to grow even without them.
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