For a long time I believed in the power of the masses, that somehow enough people would wake up and realise what was going on and decide to change things.
Ultimately, of course, this is still the only way that change actually happens, but there is a critical step in between. That critical step is leadership.
For any shift to take place a smaller group of people have to be prepared to step up and step forward, to be the change. To set the example and show the way forwards.
When times are tough, and in the absence of more positive alternatives, people can be drawn to extremes. Now, more than ever we need those with balance, with humility and with a love for all life to step up and lead.
The leadership we need is:
Thinking long term – and still able to deliver the short term wins that keep people on side.
Holistic big picture, non partisan, universal – and still able to be embraced by disparate groups.
Able to fully engage all based on their own inner drive and passion – and focus them on the common goal.
Confident enough to admit their own weaknesses and inspire the right team to compliment them to cover all of the bases.
Strong enough and focussed enough to withstand the pressure – vulnerable enough to show fallibility so others feel needed.
Courageous enough to stand up for what they believe in no matter what the tide of opinion.
Inspiring enough to truly lead. Engaging enough to connect with and energise a body of people.
We urgently need this shift in both business and in the public sector, to rebuild the economy, restore the ecosystem and create the possibility of peace.
There are examples of this leadership and those examples prove, beyond question, that this leadership, authentic leadership, delivers greater success, bigger profits, faster growth and greater financial and environmental sustainability.
We recently launched http://www.authenticleadership.me, on the web site you can see shining examples of this kind of leadership and the success that it can enable.
Website – www.neilcrofts.com ; www.neilcrofts.com
E-mail – neil@neilcrofts.com
Skype – neilcrofts
Written by Neil Crofts
A business “native” and natural leader, Neil is also an inspiring writer, teacher and coach who lives and works ahead of the curve.
Some of us are brought up in musical families or sporting families or artistic families, Neil was brought up in a business family. From an early age Neil understood the idea of profit and loss, of sales and marketing and management.
Neil’s early career took in most aspects of media through motor-sport, advertising and exhibitions. Neil shifted to digital media and the internet in 1996, ahead of most in the UK, and quickly became one of the UK’s leading digital thinkers as Head of Strategy for Razorfish in Europe.
The combination of, leading a team of 100 hyper intelligent strategists from 9 different countries, and realising that the main obstacle to effective use of the internet by businesses was cultural, rather than technical, focussed Neil’s thinking on leadership and cultural transformation in organisations.
Coming out of Razorfish Neil wrote three books on authenticity and began consulting on authentic business and authentic leadership. Since 2005 Neil has been writing an inspiring weekly blog lecturing at business schools and working with businesses on the benefits and opportunities of authenticity.
website – www.neilcrofts.comwww.neilcrofts.com
e-mail – neil@neilcrofts.com
skype – neilcrofts
