|
Today’s
Businesses Need “Gladiator” Leaders
Management consultant Greg Smith says
"gladiator virtues" like bravery, honor and vision can help your company
rise from mediocre to extraordinary.
Remember the heart-pounding, soul-stirring message of the movie
Gladiator? Remember how Maximus, the Russell Crowe character, rallied
his men around him and led them to victory, even in the face of almost
certain defeat? Remember his “envision the goal” technique for getting
through the horrors of battle? Now, consider the leadership in your own
company. Any gladiators in the ranks? Are you a gladiator?
The time is right for a more heroic style of leadership. Desperate times
lend themselves to the rise of gladiators. Instead of seeing today’s
economy as a negative, executives should view it as an opportunity in
disguise—a chance to position your organization for the inevitable
economic upswing. Here are eight virtues of Gladiator Leadership.
1. Gladiators have a mission for which they feel real passion. Call it a
purpose, an obsession, a calling: whatever the terminology, good leaders
have a defining mission in their life. This mission, above all other
traits, separates managers from leaders. In Gladiator, Maximus lived for
the mission of killing the evil usurper Commodus and restoring Rome to
the values that made her great.
2. Gladiators create a vision. Having and communicating a clear picture
of a future goal will lead to its achievement. Dare to think great!
Maximus helped his fellow gladiators see that they could overthrow their
enemies and survive the horror of the battles they were forced to
participate in. In business, a leader may create an “enemy”—the economy,
the competition, inefficiency—to challenge the energies of his or her
people and give them something to fight for.
3. Gladiators lead from the front—they don’t dictate from the back. In
the movie, both when Maximus was a general and a gladiator, he fought up
front where the firestorm was heaviest. So does a good business leader.
Working “in the trenches” shows you’re not afraid to get your hands
dirty, it helps you fully understand the issues your “soldiers” are
facing, and inspires loyalty in your troops.
4. Gladiators know there is strength in teams. Where would Maximus have
been if he hadn’t trusted his men to fight with him and cover his back?
Likewise, where would you be without your employees? While the gladiator
leader has the skills to draw people together, he doesn’t hog the
spotlight. He has care and compassion for his team and wants every
member to be recognized for his or her efforts. This is especially
important in a time when the old style “command and control” structure
is waning. Younger workers (Generations X and Y) tend to be loyal to
their coworkers rather than the traditional “organization.”
5. Gladiators encourage risk-taking. In the Roman Empire, gladiators
were expected to die with honor. Refusing to lie down and let one’s
opponents win was bucking the status quo. (And certainly, killing the
reigning emperor—however corrupt—simply was not done!) If a company does
not examine its way of doing things, if it does not push out its
boundaries, if it never makes mistakes, it may become road kill.
6. Gladiators keep their heads in a crisis. Maximus had to think on his
feet and refuse to give into terror and panic. He faced the most
formidable foes calmly and with focus. Business leaders must do the
same. They must take a position and defend it when things go awry. Being
graceful and brave under fire is the surest way to build credibility—a
necessity for sound leadership. Gladiators don’t retreat due to the
slowing economy, but look for the opportunity under their feet.
7. Gladiators prepare for battle 24 hours a day. Essentially, a Roman
gladiator was a fighting machine. To stay alive, his mind had to be
constantly on the upcoming battle. Business leaders, likewise, must be
obsessed with training and developing their people in good times and
bad. People need and want to hone their individual skills and “sharpen
their swords.” Furthermore, good leaders must constantly learn what’s
necessary to survive and unlearn the “old rules.” Just because a
management style worked a decade ago does not mean it will work in
today’s economy—good leaders evolve with the times.
8. Gladiators are teachers and mentors. Maximus taught his men the
lessons they would need to survive in their new role as gladiators. In
today’s rapidly changing environment, leaders must also teach and train
those who may soon replace them. We are not necessarily talking about
formal classroom training. We need leaders talking to people in the
hallway, in the restaurant . . . everywhere. Everyone should be
mentoring someone.
Greg Smith is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and business
performance consultant. He has written numerous books including, Here
Today, Here Tomorrow: Transforming Your Workforce from High Turnover to
High Retention. Greg has been featured on television programs such as
Bloomberg News, PBS television, and in publications including Business
Week, USA Today, Kiplinger's, President and CEO, and the Christian
Science Monitor. He is the President and "Captain of the Ship" of a
management-consulting firm called, Chart Your Course International,
located in Atlanta, Georgia. Phone him at 770-860-9464. More articles
available: http://www.chartcourse.com
Call 800-821-2487 for
questions or information
|
