What Really Creates Dynamic Leadership?
Shelley Flett (pictured below) is an expert in leadership development and team performance and author of The Dynamic Leader: Become the leader others are inspired to follow. In this guest post for B&T, Flett argues if you want to lead, it’s time to amp up the uncomfortableness…
There is endless amounts of theory, research and advice you can access on leadership and it’s all helpful if put into practice. The problem is we avoid the practice, we consume more and more theory and improve on the things we already do well but struggle with the things that don’t come naturally. To become a dynamic leader one must have an ability to embrace discomfort.
Embracing discomfort is the opposite of playing it safe and isn’t something we naturally gravitate to. When looking at successful business leaders it is rare to find one that has achieved great results without experiencing discomfort. One such successful business leader is co-founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman, who says “ironically, in a changing world, playing it safe is one of the riskiest things you can do”.
When embracing discomfort, it helps to recognise that often the things that make the biggest difference are counterintuitive! Growing up around motorbikes and riding myself for over 15 years I have learnt that great riders embrace discomfort and learn do things that don’t come naturally. For example, on a motorbike, to go right you would steer left! When you steer left the bike falls to the right which gets you around a corner. While it makes sense when you see it, it definitely doesn’t come naturally – riders must trust the process and push through their fear.
For me, the biggest fear I had when riding was losing control and so I would hold on to the handlebars as tight as I could. What this did was create stiffness right through my arms and into my shoulders. I felt every bump and as a consequence restricted the bike from naturally absorbing the impact of any obstacles on the road. By holding on this tight I had less control than if I just loosened my grip and relaxed. After some coaching and feedback from a trusted expert I adjusted my grip and went for a ride. Despite my discomfort and nervousness, I found I was better able to ride, I learnt to trust the bike along with the new technique and through continuous practice, sitting in discomfort, I saw the benefit of letting go of the control I originally had.
Great riders, like great leaders, see the bigger picture and understand the risks of only doing what they’re good at rather than continually seeking the opportunity to learn. When leaders don’t embrace discomfort and continually improve the consequences can be long-lasting and far-reaching.
In the programs I run with leaders, I talk about three key areas a leader must become proficient in, which are relationships, respect and results. Most leaders are comfortable in one or two of the areas and struggle with the other. To become a dynamic leader, one must embrace discomfort in the area they’re struggling with and continue to improve and refine their skills over time.
Investing in relationships – encourages leaders to be their true, authentic selves and show genuine care and concern for their people. It highlights the importance of acting with integrity, doing what they say they’re going to do and doing what’s right, particularly when they think no one is watching…someone is always watching! It also challenges leaders to be vulnerable. Often leaders assume a ‘super-human’ persona when they move into leadership, thinking this is what their staff expect. In reality, staff want to know their leader is human and experiences disappointment and failure just like everyone else. A leader who can embrace discomfort and acknowledges that they don’t know the answer will build trust a whole lot quicker than a leader who tries to be everything to everyone.
Inspiring respect – encourages leaders to see other perspectives and acknowledge that there is no right or wrong way of doing things, just different. When we can learn to take on different perspectives, we can learn to respect different points of view. Respect demonstrates the openness to be curious, patient and to listen and learn more about others through well-formed questions. It also enables leaders to adapt to situations by determining the optimal approach and adjusting communication modes, depending on the context and audience, for a given situation. Leaders who are willing to take on a different perspective, have the curiosity to listen and ask questions and then adapt their style will gain the respect of their staff.
Influencing results – is how dynamic leaders move their staff to action and make sustainable and incremental improvements over time. Leaders empower their people, believe in their ability to give the task the right level of attention and trust that they will represent them and the business as best they can. They build confidence through holding their staff accountable on a regular basis, rather than avoiding or ignoring situations, hoping they’ll improve on their own. They also understand the need for transparency, which isn’t about full disclosure but more about being open to disclose what can be disclosed and being completely unapologetic about topics that must stay confidential.
What really creates dynamic leadership is believing that sometimes the best course of action is the one that feels least comfortable – the thing that is counterintuitive. For many leaders this is letting go of control and learning to influence.
So, where are you playing it safe? Which of these areas do you believe you have room to grow in? Doing more of what you already do well won’t create dynamic leadership. Dynamic leadership will happen when you embrace discomfort and focus on building and balancing your skills in all three areas of relationship, respect and results.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Shelley FlettLatest News
Kantar: AVOD Subscribers Double In 12 Months
Study finds Aussies happy to watch ads on their streaming services. Or, are they just putting the kettle on more often?
Val Morgan Digital Exceeds All Campaign Uplift Benchmarks Via A 12-Month Brand Metrics Study
Val Morgan announces it has exceeded all its campaign benchmarks. Still can't get under an hour for the City To Surf.
Australian Retirement Trust launches monster of a campaign, by M&C Saatchi and Bohemia
Get offered a seat on the bus today? Knees creak like an old pirate's galleon? This retirement ad may be of interest.
Print Audits To Discontinue As Audited Media Association Of Australia Pivots To Support Influencer Marketing
Is it just B&T or are audits in the media industry suddenly becoming murkier than Roxy's husband's tax returns?
News Corp Australia Launches 2024 National Education Advocacy Initiative With Expanded Program
News Corp set to shine a light on the nation's schools in new series, giving illegal bikie gangs a well-earned rest.
Decoding The Consumer Maze: Urban List Report Reveals How Modern Shoppers Spiral From Discovery To Purchase
Latest report unravels a shopper's journey from the joy of discovery through to a nasty letter from a debt collector.
Cosmo Returns To Australia!
Ever get the feeling we've weirdly warped back to 1988 at the moment? Confirm it with the relaunch of Cosmo in print.
People & Culture Consultancy Human Kind Collective Launches To Plug HR Gap For Media Agencies
Does the very mention of HR have you struggling to remember last year's Christmas party? Get the sweats with this news.
‘We Want To Be A Growth Partner, Not Just A Media Buyer Or Someone That Makes Ads’ – Bohemia Boss On Agency’s Ambition
B&T's chatting with Bohemia boss Paul ‘Hutch’ Hutchison. Although we do think 'the dagger' a far superior nickname.
Initiative’s Geoff Clarke: ‘Youth Hits Targets With Enthusiasm, Experience Hits The Targets You Can’t See’
Initiative’s CCO Geoff Clarke on the value of experience in agencies. Not to mention quoting lines from Pulp Fiction.
The Iconic Teams Up With 5 Aussie Athletes For Latest Campaign
Fashion label brings in the athletes for new campaign, many of whom appear to have prepped with re-runs of Zoolander.
Seven West Media Secures New Director Of News & Current Affairs
After a tumultuous few weeks, Seven unveils director of news & current affairs. And B&T never uses tumultuous lightly.
Seven Network Expands NSW Sales Team With Two New Group Business Directors
Seven ramps up its NSW sales team. Both of whom are well versed in pronouncing Manu Feildel's croque-monsieur.
New PR Subscription Changing The Game For Aussie Start Ups
Need better PR? You can now buy it via a monthly subscription. Price does not include a fascinator or Moet piccolos.
Paul Kent At Centre Of Fresh Scandal After Alleged Street Brawl
Do you long for the fights, gouges & testicle grabs of footy's glory years? So too, it appears, does Paul Kent.
DiDi Taps Disney’s Tim Farmer For Head Of Brand Marketing Role
Disney's Tim Farmer shifts over to rideshare company DiDi. Taking with him his Donald Duck coffee mug & mouse ears.
As Sure As Night Becomes Day, The End Of Third-Party Cookies Has Been Delayed
The question remains: what will we see first? The end of cookies, alien invasion or Jesus's second coming?
Fast 10: Scoundrel’s Tim Bullock Explains What Shane Warne & Salt-N-Pepa Have In Common
It's a Fast 10 with Scoundrel's Tim Bullock. Make it sound even faster by sucking on helium while reading it.
Outbrain Snatches Chris Oxley From Foxtel Media
Foxtel's Chris Oxley shifts over to Outbrain, but not before having his press photo taken in the wilds of the Daintree.
oOh!media & POLY Partner With Greening Australia For OOH Awareness Campaign
Like to quell the road rage with super cute pics of fluffy marsupials? This outdoor's just the ticket.
Are Media Cares For The Carers In Its Latest Social Change Campaign
Are Media calls on the government to add super payments to carers' payments. Remains silent on AUKUS, however.
In A Fragmented World, Engagement Is King
Today, B&T TV's talking fragmentation & engagement. But not in a down-on-one-knee sense of the word.
Kyle Sandilands On Advertising: “We Want Return Business. It’s No Good Just Taking Someone’s Money”
Kyle & Jackie O finally arrive on Melbourne radio. As yet, no sign of the monotonous and bitter AFL-NRL debate.
Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]
Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]
Is Meta’s New AI Chatbot Too Left-Wing?
Meta's chatbot accused of being left-wing after being caught wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt & listening to Billy Bragg.
TV Ratings (23/04/2024): Why Did No One Tell Angela That Farmer Wants A Wife Is Set On A Farm?
As wonderful as this headline is, let's face it, we all know an 'Angela', don't we?
PubMatic Unveils New AI Partnership To Turn Social Posts Into Ads For Any Digital Channel
Here's some nifty tech for turning social posts into ads. Assuming said posts aren't one-star character assassinations.
Intuit Mailchimp Makes A Splash With Its First Australian Brand Campaign
Ever laugh along at a gag you didn't get so as not to appear dumb? Get ready for more feigning with this new work.
GumGum’s Rob Hall: Advertisers Can No Longer “Rely On Binary Descriptions” Of Consumers
If anyone's got their finger on adtech's pulse, it's Rob Hall. He also avoids using the good paper in the office printer
Mastercard Nabs Florencia Aimo From Marriott International
Marriott International's Florencia Aimo jumps from the hotel business to the exploitative credit card one.
Bastion Agency Appoints Cheuk Chiang As New ANZ CEO
Cheuk Chiang takes the reins over at Bastion Agency. But not the rains down in Africa.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Major Sponsorship Wins After A Disappointing Week In Sport
B&T continuing our deep dive into local sport sponsorships & that's despite not a single offer of a free ticket as yet.
Macca’s Marketing Director, Samantha McLeod On Big Mac Chant: “What Was Once Old Is Now Cool Again”
Macca's using the power of nostalgia in latest Big Mac campaign. Well, only for those who've ever eaten one sober.
World Premiere Of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line To Open Sydney Film Festival 2024
Oil's biopic to open Sydney Film Festival. Here's hoping Molly Meldrum will take his pants down at the premiere.
Entries Are Now Open For The 2024 Brandies, IntelligenceBank’s Annual Brand Marketing Awards
The Brandies are, of course, a prestigious marketing gong and not the mystery tipple favoured by nannas everywhere.