The Leadership Question

What is a leader to do? That is the question that anyone in a leadership position must continually answer. So how is a leader to respond to this fundamental question? By asking more questions.

The first step is to identify the issue that needs to be addressed: What is the concern or problem we must face? The general issue is to then be translated into the form of a goal: What outcome do we want to achieve? The goal needs to be specific, measurable, achievable, and timed.

How do we achieve the goal? This is the next leadership question to be answered. A plan is to be formulated that includes the sequential actions to be taken. A timeline is developed outlining when each step is to be completed. Individuals or committees are assigned specific tasks and deadlines. The plan is then implemented.

The leader must then ask, “How are we doing?” This is the evaluation stage. There are two assessment questions to be asked: How well are we working our plan? How well is our plan working?

With each solution, new challenges arise. This means the leader must start the process anew and return to the first question to identify the next issue that needs to be faced.

So what is a leader to do? Ask questions and then facilitate followers in discovering answers.

© Mitchell R. Alegre

© Copyright 2003-2008. Mitchell R. Alegre. All rights reserved.