Unlike the famous Thomas the Train children’s story, effective leaders cannot afford to be indecisive when it comes to making decisions about the corporations and communities that they lead. An effective leader has got to be able to thoroughly assess a situation and give clear direction. An effective leader has to also be able to successfully communicate to their employees what they expect from the m and what direction they wish the company to move in. When a leader speaks directly and confidently to a crisis situation or just to the general order of business, they gain the admiration and respect of their followers. Vacillating between decisions, changing their minds or being inconsistent can be damaging to any leader whose job is to create growth and productivity within their organization. While “I Think I Can” may be befitting of a train whose potential he did not recognize until after he got the job done, a leader must be the very opposite in his dealings and confidently express, “I Know I Can” at the onset in order to be successful and a great leader.
This is an interesting analogy, Bridget. A leader often needs to be collaborative, but also has to inspire confidence and be able to motivate the team.
I think you also highlight another interesting point - that there is a difference between flexibility and inconsistency.
Posted by: Yvonne Russell | November 8, 2007 10:57 PM | Permalink to Comment