Motivating and inspiring others towards a desired outcome
Peter Drucker, the father of modern management thinking, defined the manager’s work in terms of five basic operations. The manager is to:
- Set objectives
- Organize the group work
- Motivate and communicate
- Measure performance
- Develop people, including oneself
But to lead others, is more than managing them. It means working with and through people.
It is not about a position in a hierarchy, but rather about “a mindset in action”.
Or, as Peter Drucker did put it, “The only definition of a leader is someone who has followers.”
So, natural leaders simply lead, while others follow them naturally.
But leadership can also be consciously developed.
- Good leaders know themselves well and remain authentic (managing oneself).
Authenticity is the hallmark of self-knowledge and leadership and means sharing and living one’s values. For people to trust a leader, his/her actions have to be aligned with his/her declared values. - Good leaders take the people they work with seriously and are physically present (focused attention) when interacting with them. Giving full attention to people will make them feel recognized and motivated. Being fully present also means being flexible and dealing with rapid changes spontaneously.
- Last but not least, great leaders are great communicators. They lead by using every means at their disposal to express themselves dynamically and authentically. To be a great communicator is more than being a good presenter. It’s about how we express ourselves every day, moment by moment, in every interaction, including one-on-one meetings, gatherings, in a small team, or before large audiences.
“Eighty percent of success in life is showing up.”
– Woody Allen
→ The skills actors use to inspire and influence their audience are skills which can be acquired and developed by leaders to inspire and motivate the people they are working with. Theater and Improv theater techniques teach us to conquer our fear, use our voice and body congruently, be expressive and flexible, and master the power of storytelling in professional set-ups.
* Peter F. Drucker (1909 – 2005), Austrian-born American management consultant and author, considered by many as the father of modern management. “The Essential Drucker”, 2001
* Heywood “Woody” Allen (born 1935), US_American director, writer, actor, and comedian
