Do You Think Like a Leader?

Jun 01, 2019 1 Min Read
Alt

Developing the next generation of leaders was listed as the top issue for CEOs in DDI’s CEO Challenges: Global Leadership Forecast for 2018 report. Leaders are increasingly being asked to grapple with complex problems for which there is no one right answer.

They are needing to balance internal and external pressures and stakeholder needs, in an environment that is constantly changing. Consequently, effective leadership development requires a focus on encouraging leaders to think differently, to challenge prevailing norms and to be comfortable not having all the answers.

READ: Why You Need Self-Control In Leadership Matters

However, many leadership development programs still focus on teaching new skills, abilities and behaviours, rather than looking at how leaders think, process information, make decisions and influence those around them. Understanding how a leader thinks, influences and uses power is critical.

A 2010 study by the University of Southern California and London Business School (Power and over confident decision making) found there’s a correlation between over-confidence and how much power a person has.  

The more power a person feels the more confident they are of the accuracy of their thoughts and beliefs. This means people in powerful positions are more confident that their opinions are right.

For leaders who are being charged with solving complex problems and making difficult decisions, being overly confident may result in decision failures as they fail to heed advice or look for alternative opinions. As well, when power is concentrated in the hands of a few people, who all think the same way, an organisation more readily opens itself up to failures, group-think and poor decision processes.

Humans are tribal creatures, who like to fit in and be part of the pack. This can create a pressure to conform that stifles questions and inhibits challenging the status quo. This is more likely to happen in homogeneous groups, which is why involving a diverse range of people is an essential element of effective decision making.

Research by Associate Professor of Management and Organisations at the Kellogg School of Management, Katherine Phillips, and colleagues found that diverse teams often make better decisions as they ensure different views are considered. The research showed that the better decisions were not the result of new ideas, but because the diversity caused more careful information processing than in the homogeneous groups.

Decision making is an imperfect science, which requires diversity of thought to improve its effectiveness, and so developing leaders to be more consciously aware of how they think, process and decide is critical for organisational success. As well, leaders need to be encouraged to see influence not as self-serving, but as a tool which can help to equalise and share power, and therefore ensure diverse voices are heard.

When a leader is comfortable influencing in this way they can confidently express ideas, embrace big thinking and step into difficult discussions, without holding onto the notion that they must win the argument. They are also more willing to surround themselves with people who are comfortable speaking up, to question and to challenge assumptions.

In doing this, they create an environment which encourages debate, views dissent and doubt as a useful precursor to effective decision-making, and helps to ensure leaders don’t become complacent, arrogant and out of touch. The reminder for leaders – when they see themselves as the smartest person in the room, it’s time to find another room.

Michelle Gibbings is a change leadership and career expert and founder of Change Meridian.

Share This

Community

Alt

This article is published by the editors of Leaderonomics.com with the consent of the guest author. 

You May Also Like

Lam managing outpatient registrations at a village in Santhong

Malaysians Touching Lives Across Borders

By NINA TI
A plucky Malaysian is one of the main movers behind the recent “Humanitarian and Love” project – a free medical mission that delivered basic healthcare to the poor villagers of Santhong District in Vientiane, Laos.

Feb 23, 2020 4 Min Read

CSR Sustainability (Peoples hands)

Integrating Sustainable CSR

Aaron Dason, Head of Operations at M.A.D. Movement, explains the importance of CSR and how to ensure its sustainability. 

Sep 27, 2022 26 Min Podcast

Alt

Inspiring Change: How My Autistic Sister Led Me to Empower 200+ Individuals | MAD Talk

In this moving MAD Talk, Serena shares her journey of how her autistic sister inspired her to create a groundbreaking initiative, employing over 200 autistic individuals and transforming perceptions about autism in Malaysia." Key Insights: - Discover Serena's personal story and the founding of 'Serena's Secret' – an organization dedicated to empowering autistic individuals. - Learn about the unique partnership with Microsoft and how Serena and Chloe became ambassadors, teaching coding to Tun Mahathir. - Explore the creation of sustainable products for autistic adolescents, providing them with essential skills and future employment opportunities. - Understand the importance of inclusivity in public spaces and the role of supportive communities in enabling individuals with autism to thrive.

Oct 16, 2023 8 Min Video

Be a Leader's Digest Reader