We used to say a leader is someone others choose to follow. But leadership is changing. it’s not about gathering followers. It’s about empowering others to become dynamic leaders themselves. This article goes into more depth about what it means to be a Dynamic Leader.
A Dynamic Leader is Someone Who…
You might be a Dynamic Leader if…
If you are what Jim Collins calls a Level 5 Leader, you’re probably also a Dynamic Leader. If you have what Stephen Covey calls interdependence, you’re probably a Dynamic Leader. If you have what Noel Tichy calls “a teachable point of view”, you’re probably a Dynamic Leader. If Carl Jung would declare you to be individuated, or Abraham Maslow would consider you to be self-actualized, you’re probably a Dynamic Leader. If you see your own response as the greatest leverage you have in any situation, you’re probably a Dynamic Leader.
Some more Dynamic Leader specifics
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who has outgrown all forms of victimhood and tyranny including manipulation and coercive power tactics in favor of magnetic influence based on reciprocal engagement and confluent communication.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who progressively clarifies and refines their own leadership philosophy and shares it eloquently with others.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who serves organizational mission, vision and values instead of personal power needs.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who knows when to lead, when to manage and when to stand down.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who sees problems and obstacles as invitations to outgrow the perspectives that created them and to embrace higher perspectives to transform them.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who uses Beginner’s Mind to obtain fresh perspectives.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who knows the stage a developing leader is in and engages them at the appropriate level.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who empowers others by engaging their greatness more than by instruction.
- A Dynamic Leader progressively clarifies and refines their unique point of view by integrating input from self-reflection, study, mentoring, coaching and feedback.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who doesn’t need the word leader in their title to take ownership of their area of influence.
- A Dynamic Leader is someone who measures his and other’s leadership abilities by their ability to empower others.
You can get a broader overview of what it means to be a Dynamic Leader by reviewing the questions in the Emerging Dynamic Leadership Inventory at www.speakstrong.com/leaderinventory/
About that power shift…
When I teach intergenerational communication I joke with my Boomers that it’s a drag that once we’ve paid our dues and gotten older, we can’t cash in and play the power games that were played on us. I’m sure there are many leaders who feel the same way. But joking aside, what Dynamic Leaders get in return for giving up power, is influence. That is a much better prize.
Do get Wendy Mack’s and my book Perfect Phrases for Leadership Development to not only get a clearer picture of leadership today, but to get the phrases to empower others to lead that way.