Blog

Leadership from the Front Line- Innovation and Adaptation

Every student of history quickly realizes that the most successful armies defeat the enemy by modifying and adapting their strategies in each situation, by using innovation to develop new tactical solutions, and by discovering new ways to use the resources available.

Many would consider an analogy between war and business an unlikely stretch. But, as a former history teacher and business owner, I can honestly say that every business owner has been in the position where they must adapt their strategy and leverage available resources in order to compete in the market.

According to John Baldoni, a writer for Forbes, weak leadership on the front lines of a business is one big reason that organizations struggle. The other key reason for leadership failure is “lack of strategic skills.” Baldoni adds that the weak leaders on the front lines can result in the decline of a business. The same is true in the military- a weak leader in the front who lacks the proper skills places his men in harm’s way.

In the military, the leaders on the front lines are responsible for fostering adaptation, flexibility of thought, and innovation.  One such leader who stands out is Major Dick Winters. Dick Winters was a soldier; but more importantly he was a leader who inspired others to move forward into danger and uncertainty by always being willing to move first. Winters never hesitated to accept the most difficult assignments, nor did he cower when facing personal danger and difficult responsibility.  The greatest example of the inspiring type of leader Winters was could be most easily seen  in the fact that many of Easy Company had suffered wounds and could have opted for light duty or even a trip home; however most chose to return to the brotherhood of heroes in Easy Company. These men felt confident enough to face the dangers ahead through Winters‘ leadership and the comradery of their brothers in arms.

The important lessons that can be taken from Winters’ leadership include:

• Leaders must say “follow me!” and then lead the way
• Leaders must be courageous and never allow fear of the unknown to deter their mission.
• Leaders must step up regardless of the difficulty of the task
• Leaders persevere to complete the mission.
• Leaders must cultivate an atmosphere of friendship, trust, and loyalty.
• Leaders must be willing to sacrifice, defend and encourage their men.
• Leaders must think on their feet and use Innovation to find solutions.
• Leaders must adapt to any and all situations that arise

A quick look at these lessons and one can see that they easily translate into the world of business.

1. Lead from the front. Say, “follow me!” and then lead the way.

Never ask your team to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. You cannot make sound decisions unless you are at the point of attack. Leaders should always position themselves where the critical decisions must be made. Precisely where that location should be is a judgment call, but in my experience leader should be as far forward as possible. Successful leaders must be highly visible, if for no other reason than to share the hardships of their team.

2. Leaders must be courageous and never allow fear of the unknown to deter their mission

The fear of the unknown can be unsettling; but good leaders in business embrace that fear and see challenges as opportunities. Your team needs to see that their leaders are not afraid, that their leaders believe in the business, and that they are committed to success.

3. Leaders must step up regardless of the difficulty of the task

Let your team know exactly what the situation is and what needs to be done. Ask for their help. Yes, they can “handle the truth.” If they see your confidence and willingness to jump in with them, they will want to pitch in and be prepared to sacrifice in the short term for the greater good.

4. Leaders persevere to complete the mission.

Part of being a good leader involves sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance. This is how battles are won and good companies become great. It’s the collective hard work from each and every member of your team, including yourself. No one’s going to put in the extra effort if they see their leaders coasting.

5. Leaders must cultivate an atmosphere of friendship, trust, and loyalty.

Think about this one like this: If they trust you they will go through hell and high water for you. Trust and loyalty comes through building good relationships. Leaders who create a climate of understanding and trust generate the type of environment where people feel they are valued and safe to voice their opinions. If you are being open you will encourage your employees to do the same.

6. Leaders must be willing to sacrifice, defend and encourage their men

According to Eric Jackson, a contributor to Forbes, “most companies give lip service to the importance of good employees, but they don’t actually treat them as though they’re important.” Strong business leaders know that their employees are key to their company’s success and are willing to make sacrifices to ensure their employees feel valued and appreciated. Successful leaders ensure that their employees feel appreciated by clearly communicating expectations, offering guidance and training, and by providing the tools to complete each given task.  You can’t live up to what you don’t know. When employees aren’t given clear direction and a thorough understanding of the company’s expectations, they won’t do their jobs properly or get frustrated and leave.

7. Leaders must think on their feet and use Innovation to find solutions

Innovation is a vital ingredient to the success of any business and often presents itself as the biggest challenge. Strong leaders encourage and stimulate the generation of new ideas. In today’s competitive markets innovation is the power to carry new ideas to customers and satisfy their increasing needs.  But the need for innovation is certainly not confined to what a business takes to their customers; innovation can also bring greater efficiency and enhanced productivity within the workplace.

8. Leaders must adapt to any and all situations that arise

All situations are different. What you do in one situation will not always work in another. You must use your judgment to decide the best course of action for each situation. The best leaders think and act to exert strategic influence with their team. They act to assure that their business is well positioned competitively. Leaders who adapt:

• Are proactive, foresee opportunities and put resources in place to grab them.
• Employ a broad-based style of leadership that enables them to be personally more flexible and adaptive.
• Consider diverse and often conflicting opinions when before making major decisions.
• Can admit when they are wrong and alter or abandon a specific course of action.
• Can generate creative routes for action.
• Continually increase their team’s capacities to learn, transform, change culture and adapt technology.
• Are not afraid to experiment or take risks
• Are lifelong learners

In today’s business environment, leaders are constantly bombarded by extraordinary pressures. However, possessing the willingness to get out of one’s comfort zone, and learn continuously as a way of adapting to changing surroundings, marks a key difference between successful and unsuccessful leaders.

Did you miss Part 1? Read it here.