From the course: Executive Leadership

The four disciplines

From the course: Executive Leadership

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The four disciplines

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- Executive leadership is like an ocean voyage of discovery, and you're the captain. Your people are counting on you to find a way to arrive safely and successfully despite currents and storms. How do you do it? In four distinct ways, what I call the four disciplines of executive leadership. By discipline I mean consistent action. The four disciplines are top priority, integrated sets of practices and actions for executive leadership success. In the following chapters, each of the four disciplines is broken down into several practices, each with its own video. Each video has several specific action steps to guide you how to implement each practice. It's also summarized in a downloadable handout in your exercise file. First, set direction. Where are you leading us? Omar Bradley said, "Set your course by the stars, "not by the lights of every passing ship." It's challenging. We need direction, but not just any direction, nor one that is too susceptible to change, though things change around us every day. Second, motivate commitment. Why should we give our best effort? You must make a convincing case and embody the inspiration you want to see in others. On this point, there's a fine excerpt from "The Little Prince" that captures the difference between operational management and visionary leadership. "If you want to build a ship, "don't drum up the people to gather wood, "divide the work, and give orders. "Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." Third, drive for results. What happens when trouble happens? Changes, challenges, and crises will come. You must prepare us to adapt and endure and prevent us from giving in to excuses, naivete, and fatigue. William Arthur Ward said, "The pessimist complains about the wind; "the optimist expects it to change; "the realist adjusts the sails." Fourth, develop yourself. How do you equip yourself for the journey? You can't give your people what they deserve for long unless you give yourself what you need too. Leading others is a voyage in the outer world of tangible results and the inner world of your own growth. It takes curiosity and courage. As an executive leader, your ability to master the disciplines enables you to fulfill the overarching aim of serving your people as well as you're capable of doing. You do what needs to be done to inspire them to do what they're capable of doing, learning, and becoming. Go through the videos in each of the four disciplines and note carefully which action steps you need to do more often. Then explore and discover. Start them right away.

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