Because not every leader acts identically in a cookie-cutter way, you lead in context. And sometimes, if you take on a new role in a new organization,some of the things that did work will translate, but only a naïve leader walks out of one organization and walks into the other and says, right, I know exactly what I have to do here. You need to understand the nature of the organization, and you do that through fieldwork. This is because fieldwork is incredibly important. Do not make assumptions about what’s good and what’s not. See it for yourself. As a leader you need to understand what is really happening in the business, you can only do this by talking to managers, frontline staff, customers and suppliers.
In our leadership capability series, Matt Richter and I provide the tools to explore the context of leadership and to unearth what needs to change in the organization in order for it to thrive.
Find our more about the Building Leadership Capability Series here.