Leadership: Out, Influence/Impact: In!
influence (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)
I love what is happening around the globe today. In my work with ProVoke, I am brought into companies to disrupt and create a Culture of Disruption, leading to a Culture of Innovation. As we look at create a culture (versus the old school corporate hierarchy) titles don’t create change, the individual does.
It is NOT about title that makes a leader, but rather about ‘IF’ people follow you. So in the new Culture of Innovation and highly innovative companies the critical elements are:
- Influence
- Impact
- Inspiration
In our interaction with people in our team, group, department or entire multi-hundred-thousand person organization, we need to ask ourselves, do we have a visionary, positive and lasting Influence on individuals? Do we instill fear (based on rank) OR do we truly INFLUENCE the path of the company, the products and the people. The best leaders are those who have a huge sphere of influence by virtue of their vision and insights. These individuals are often extremely (and constantly) passionate about their company, products and mission.
Influence clearly leads to IMPACT, and we can impact the direction, growth and success of the team and company.
When positive influence and impact are in play, then comes the hardest to achieve but most important success factor: Being able to INSPIRE people!
Meaningful culture change happens when leaders of companies replace traditional leadership models with the 3 parameters which I discuss in ProVoke.
Influence –> Impact–> Inspiration
To maintain a lasting and meaningful culture change, requires that we maintain a global level of inspiration (no Ra-Ra campaigns) rather people create a culture of self-driven relentless people who are thrilled about what they are doing and want to achieve excellence.
This is not achieved by hierarchies, titles and mission statements. Rather it is GAINED when people trust us, our passion and drive. It is about what we achieve by our passion, not what a title grants us. It then becomes about the person and not the gender or race of the person.
It is not about instilling fear or about not missing deadlines, but rather it is about how to influence highly talented people to find the inner fuel to drive themselves. That is why we hire highly talented people into corporations.
How many highly ranked leaders do you know who truly influence and inspire their global organization. People who change other’s view of their job into a passion? We stand to have many more. Each of us can be such an influencer!
Fact: Leadership does not create following or influence. However, if you can touch, influence and inspire organization, then leadership is a natural outcome!
That is what my work in changing global cultures to Cultures of Innovation is about! The journey is under way and lots of work ahead in 2014 and beyond!