[April 12, 2015] While riding on the Q Train in New York City the other day, I couldn’t help but overhear an argument between two young men about who would be best for the next U.S. president. The upcoming election will offer us students of leadership an opportunity to study how to measure leadership in our leaders – whether they are politicians, military flag officers, CEOs, or any senior leader.
What then, is the best measure of the leadership effectiveness of a leader? While this may be the single most important question, some people do not believe effectiveness in a leader matters. Some think that the most valuable thing in a leader is the color of their skin, their gender, religious beliefs, and the like. Those who want features other than leadership traits deserve a discussion but for sometime later … in the meantime, feel free to read my comments about a rarely discussed topic: intellectual laziness.
Much has been written on the topic of measuring leadership and it has been subject to many academic studies. However, it is the assessment of successful leaders that most fascinates us about what leaders think are the best measures of good leadership. While there are many leader traits that are critical for long-term success, there are only two agreeable points on which to measure leadership: 1) ability to deliver results and 2) ability to energize people toward a common goal. Of course, anyone reading this blog for very long will say, “how about honesty, integrity, honor, as well as having vision and accountability?”
It is true these things matter a great deal. But at the end of the day those things most visible and thus that which can be measured are delivering on results and energizing people. All else in the measurement of leadership is secondary. I’m no cynic on leadership traits because I know how to recognize evil when I see it and I also know evil can possess great leadership skills – think Adolf Hitler.
Leaders have the ultimate responsibility for delivering the right outcome (results) by meeting expectations and providing immediate value in what they do. Leaders also create a positive, energy that builds and improves relationships across all stakeholders while motivating people to achieve a common cause. Both measures require the leader to be a master of the psychology of people.
The greatest leaders of our time measure high on any scale that uses results and energy to determine leadership effectiveness; Gandhi, Churchill, King Jr., Lincoln, Patton, Washington, all names forever emblazoned on the altar of great leadership.
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