Post by GlocalizedHR on Oct 20, 2015 16:56:41 GMT
SuperLeader : Who are you - Superman or Batman?
There are loads of articles floating around about the attributes of a good leader or bad leader. We have always discussed about various styles of leaders that walk among us. We categorise them based on their different leadership styles that may make them visionary or the coach or the team builder or the paragon or all the other great titles that may be awarded to a successful leader.
The question that has always popped up in my mind is not how they have become a successful leaders, but “what” that has made them a leader and that to a successful one. Everybody reads those articles on how to be a successful leader, but only few reach those heights of being a successful leader.
I believe it’s because of the bitter fact that not everyone has the DNA of being a leader, only if you have that DNA you can actually adapt and develop a specific leadership style. By saying so I really do not mean to say that people should stop asking themselves “What leadership style work best them and their organisation?”, however, I would insist that they should start asking one more question and get an answer to it before moving the above question and that is “Who am I, a Superman or a Batman?”
Once you have an answer to the question of being a Superman or a Batman, it will be a lot more easier to chose the right leadership style for yourself. Leaders are like Superheroes to their organisations, whole organisation looks upto them in times of need, good or bad, they believe in them and follow them. Now the question is what do I mean by being either of the superheroes.
“Superman” Leader
it is often said that leaders are born and not made, that’s what makes you a Superman Leader. Some people have the traits of a leader in their internal characteristics like, confidence, personality, charisma, intelligence and social skills that make them leaders that are born to lead.
Just like Superman was born with his superhero skills, but it took him good number of years to understand and harness his real potential, but once he understood his real potential he became the Superhero. But the advantage he had was that he possessed all those powers from his birth.
Those who have seen Superman movies or read Superman comics would easily relate to the below mentioned leadership attributes
Know yourself first: As a good leader you need to connect with other people and you can only be able to connect once you know yourself first. Find out what you truly believe and what are your true values. Only, when he believed he could fly, he actually did. So if you really want to be a successful leader, you must know your values and beliefs first
Sometime you have to take a leap of faith first, the trust part comes later
Break the barriers: You must believe that there is nothing that could stand between you and your goals. Human race has always dreamt of flying like a bird, until Wright Brothers broke the barriers of the belief that humans can’t fly and made the first aeroplane.
So many of our dreams at first seems impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable. - Christofer Reeve / Superman
Play to win with respect: Get close to your threats and competition, treat them with kindness and respect, but never forget the big picture of your goals. Always remember, even if you know you have an edge over your competitor you must maintain the humility, that will eventually gain the respect a leader needs.
Keep exploring your talent: Leaders have a plethora of talents and gifts of leadership, never settle down with what you have achieved, you never know what more possible heights you may reach
No retreat, no surrender: As a leader you can’t just give up and surrender to the tough times, a super leader always stays in the ring and fight on.
Nothing will stop me from protecting the city, not even this falling building
Serve Others: What made Superman a Superhero was his desire to help those who needs help. Similarly a Leader, no matter how extraordinary or powerful he is, would not be a Super Leader till the time he is not bale to win the hearts of people he is working with and accepts them as a great leader
“Batman” Leader
Like Superman, not everyone is born with the hidden gifts of being a leader, but for sure some leaders are like Batman, who might not have born with the inherent gifts of being a leader but are born with the will to fight all odds and rise up as great leaders.
Unlike leaders of Superman category, Batman leaders actually works on the practical leadership, achieving the high results not by their own skills alone, but by putting the resources available around to their best use.
Some leadership skills that Batman Leaders display are as below:
Understand the competition: Since you do not have an advantage of being a Superman already, it is of utmost importance to understand your competition and their competitive advantage over you. Knowing your upper skills is very easy and self appreciating, but your could win the game only once you know what your opponent is better at.
You are superhero but still a human: You are not Superman and are not born to be humanly invincible, so you must know your limitations to keep reminding you that you may be a Super-Leader, but not Super-Human-leader, and helps to avoid doing things that are beyond your capabilities. Knowledge of your limitations should not work as road blocks for you, but as motivation to think out of the box and overcome those limitations with innovative approach
Technology is your best-friend: As leaders you might not have a utility belt of Batman, but you can very well use your best friend technology to work for you. But always remember, Batman carries only a utility belt not the backpack of gadgets, similarly, don’t overload yourself with technology, use only that is required.
Wear your action mask if required: A good leader must always be ready to wear the mask when it is time for action. Batman is Bruce Wayne when he is not in action, but even without mask he is always in action as he prepares and keeps himself ready for the action times. Leader must also keep themselves ready to get into action to achieve the required goals when the times come. In management terms we could easy say, he is the leader who leads by example, he generally use actions instead of voice to achieve his vision.
“It’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do that defines you.”
Risk failure in order to succeed: At many occasions Batman take risks that are visibly a possible failure, however, he still take those risks, because he knows if he keep making safety nets, he might become slow and will fail instead. Similarly, in an organisation, leaders first try to prepare themselves for any risks, and keep making strategies of how not to fail, which eventually makes them slow and their competition wins. Hence, in order to win, you have to take risks, even if that means jumping off the cliff without a safety harness to reach the other cliff.
Dark Knight rises: Many leader do fail, but what makes them a Batman leader is the will to rise back again, and the will of not letting the failures break them. Because once you let your failures break you, they will keep pulling you down in the darkness of destruction and destroy you.
“And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.”
So the point here is if Bruce Wayne can fall and rise as Batman, so you can!
Eventually, all leaders can choose their leadership styles in the later stages of their career as leaders, but it is first and foremost for them to realise “who they actually are? - Superman or Batman”