The Essence of Leadership

 

Leadership: The Path of Ambition

 

For leaders, one of the lessons of the past decade is that nothing great ever happens without a great ambition. To gauge the likelihood of success for any change initiative, leaders have learned to ask,

 

• What's the nature of the leaders' ambition?
• What is their vision of the organization's future?
• Does the leadership team have an appetite for change?

 

It is found that the larger the scale of the change that leaders seek, the more likely it will succeed. However, many leaders, particularly in large organizations, are incrementalists. They believe that the "safe" way to get somewhere is to change a little at a time. Yet too often tiny steps get you nowhere at all.

 

Every great leader begins with a great dream. Ambitious visions not only require a capacity for meaningful change, but also provide the energy and inspiration to engage others. These tasks - articulating a dream and rallying others around it - are the essence of leadership. The study of leaders in every field tells us that leadership is the residue of ambition.

 

Being Ambitious

 

• For leaders to make a difference - and for the benefits of markets and technology to be widely shared - requires more, not less, ambition.
• Great leaders have an ambition marked by a greater sense of purpose, an urge to create something beyond oneself.
• A look at the great achievers of history, and at dozens of business and social heroes of today (from Michael Dell to Sam Walton to Rosa Parks), shows that great ambitions follow a predictable path.

 

A three-part arc of ambition.

 

Ascending the arc: The first stage is deeply personal. It begins with a fresh insight, discovery, or conviction. Ambitious people are steadfast - and sometimes unrealistically hopeful - in pursuit of their vision. They prepare themselves to recognize, and then seize, the opportune moment.

 

Finding balance: To succeed, leaders must extend their personal vision to others in the organization or community. It is here, where high goals are tempered by disciplined execution that many stumble. We must weigh the risks of underachieving against over-extending. And we must deliver on our promises and espoused values, or risk losing credibility and the commitment of others.

 

Passing the torch: It's not easy to give up control of one's life's work. But the best way to keep control is to share it. Passion and commitment are cemented when decision-making authority and personal rewards are widely distributed. Dispersing leadership (and wealth) also helps us recognize when its time to change our role, reinvent our organization, or step aside for the next generation.