#9 in How do we create a High Performance Culture?

Leadership. What is it?

If you look back at my first blog, I asked the question, “Do you belong to a High Performance Culture?”

I asked if you were a manager or a coach.

Now, for me one of the key characteristics of a leader is that they are a coach

Over the past decade a phrase has entered the HR lexicon of management speak - Authentic Leadership. It is a concept introduced by management expert Bill George in his 2003 book "Authentic Leadership" and developed further in the later book "True North." George describes authentic leadership as a leadership style that is consistent with a leaders' personality and core values, and that is honest, ethical and practical. (My emphasis)

Now I have no desire to disagree with George. He is by any standard a true leader and has more than proved this in a range of environments. However, to me “authentic” just sounds like how I would describe a true, or real, leader.

A true leader is honest, to him/herself and to others. They are capable of acknowledging that they do not know all the answers and sometimes get it wrong. If they do not fit this description, then by my definition they are not a leader. They might be in charge and “leading” through an assumed or imposed rank, but they are not a true leader.

True leaders are certainly ethical as this is another trait of being honest. Being ethical means doing the right thing, even when unpopular or out of sync with expectations. Being ethical is a state of mind, not something one adopts to sound good in a company’s mission and values statement.

Being practical is also in part about being honest and, in being so, providing a simple and practical example to others. Being practical is knowing when something is not working, finding out why not and making the necessary changes and is accepting one does not have all the answers and asking others for help, ideas etc.

However, one characteristic all good leaders exhibit is the desire to help others to improve and develop themselves; not by telling, but through coaching, mentoring and when necessary holding hands and guiding, always being honest – in good times and bad.

So, I ask again, are you a manager or a coach?

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