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Each leader has his or her own beliefs,
perspectives, experiences, and style. Perhaps nowhere are
the differences more pronounced than between leaders of
different generations. As they try to work together toward
common goals, their divergent approaches often carry them
miles away from one another and from desired outcomes.
But there is more common ground than most
leaders realize. Finding it may involve a bit of a journey
-- in Sander and Jonathan Flaum's case, it was a literal
one. In search of the universal qualities of leadership,
the father and son found themselves having their most enlightening
discussions not in an office or boardroom, but while walking
together. Over mountains and along beaches, up and down
city streets and country roads they went, for six months,
until they had covered 100 miles -- and perhaps learned
as much about each other and their relationship as they
did about the essence of leadership.
So, what sort of definition of leadership
do you get when you meld the perspectives of a 65-year-old
traditional CEO with those of his son, a 36-year-old entrepreneur
who is a student of Zen? The 100-Mile Walk recounts
the authors' trek and sets out their newfound knowledge
in the form of nine points on which every leader (and aspiring
leader) must focus:
People. Have the self-esteem to hire
people as smart as or smarter than you are, and who will
not only respond to your pushing, but will also push back.
Purpose. Clearly define your vision
for your people, and shape all decisions around that objective.
Passion. Do the job like it's never
been done before.
Performance. In a culture of incessant
"multitasking," remember the importance of focus
and flawless execution -- one A+ outcome at a time.
Persistence. Success means "no"
is only for today; fight for a "yes" tomorrow.
It takes total conviction that It Can Be Done.
Perspective. Check out the internal
environment daily. When someone needs a pat on the back,
give it. The payback is immeasurable.
Paranoia. Assume your competitors
are gunning for you, the elder Flaum advises. Do whatever
is necessary to keep your competitive edge. Conversely,
says the son, you can escape the grip of paranoia by accepting
competition as a natural outcome of capitalism, to be approached
creatively, not combatively.
Principles. "The real work of
leadership," credibility and ethics must be drivers
of your everyday actions. If they are only vague statements
unrelated to your "real work," you are not a real
leader. Do the right thing all the time, not just when it's
convenient, and people will flock to you.
Practice. Real leaders continuously
work at their craft, and they love to practice just as artists,
athletes, and musicians do. Practice the nine Ps daily,
and live your principles, until what you do is what you
are!
The challenge of leadership is timeless.
As it turns out, so are its several solutions. As the realm
of the contemporary leader grows ever wider and more complex,
the nine points identified in The 100-Mile Walk will
continue to resonate with leaders of every type and generation.
Sander A. Flaum, an expert in healthcare
marketing, was named Man of the Year for the industry in
2002. Now CEO of Flaum Partners, he is former chairman of
the advertising agency network Euro RSCG Life and founder
of the Leadership Forum at Fordham Graduate School of Business.
He has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, Bloomberg, and other TV networks.
Sander Flaum lives in New York City.
Jonathan Flaum is a speechwriter and
coach for leaders and founder/CEO of WriteMind Communications,
a consulting firm specializing in public communication and
organizational creativity. He lives in Asheville, North
Carolina.
Michelle Flaum is the founder of Marketing
Fire, a creative marketing consultancy. She was previously
president of Faith Popcorn's BrainReserve. She lives in
New York City.
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