How leadership must evolve from ‘command and control’ to ‘sense and respond’ if a situation like this is to be avoided ever again
Having been watching Mr Bates vs the Post Office through the lens of leadership. It makes very uncomfortable viewing. I found myself having to remember that this isn’t just an ITV drama but a true story.
Here, in front of our eyes is a horrible case study that evidences the level of responsibility and accountability that leadership really holds. The story unfolds to show the ultimate prices paid by those left in its wake. And yet, I was moved by the courage and tenacity of those who relentlessly sought to do ‘what was right’. To me, they are the true leaders here.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office – the leadership lens
What do I mean by a true leader? In my eyes, that means seven things which are far from a definitive list.
1. The leader that is connected at all times to what they think, feel and sense. They pay equal attention to each of these leadership intelligences. This is a place of natural balance, the place from which all actions are taken and all decisions are made.
2. The leader that places as much focus, care and responsibility for their operating model of ‘being’ as much as on their operating model of ‘doing’.
3. The leader that understands that their leadership role is one of service, towards a larger purpose, part of a bigger system in which they simply play their part.
4. The leader that truly appreciates that we are all connected and all part of a larger eco-system that is ‘biological’. That the real leadership system reaches far beyond stakeholders and even further than the communities of the single, isolated ‘mechanical’ operation of their organisation.
5. The leader who is able to relate, as an integrated human being, to others because they have become exceptional at human connection and communication.
6. The leader who is deeply conscious, authentic and purposeful and in being so invites others to be the same.
7. The leader who considers the role of leadership not as one of ‘command and control’ but to one of ‘sensing and responding’
To me, this is the evolution of leadership. The need to flourish by ‘sensing and responding’, just as nature does.
And the leadership market is one that must support our leaders in this work. That means it must let go of what has perhaps become comfortable, outdated or apathetic in approach. It must modernise. Actively reshape what it means to ‘be’ a leader, relinquish the reliance on models and theories and begin to realise that the practice of leadership is as unique to each of us as our fingerprint. To re-connect with the fact that any change across a leadership system begins with the ability to be exceptional at human connection and communication.
There is a movement towards this work and already some amazing individuals who are championing this work across corporate organisations. But there aren’t enough.
I for one, as part of The Natural Leader will be doing my best to make sure that this work is brought to the leadership market so that another Mr Bates vs The Post Office doesn’t ever happen again.