I have had the privilege of serving as an Army Officer for 15 years and I been given some of the best Leadership training and education in the world. At the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, the UK Defence Academy and throughout my service both on and off operations, I was, and am, always learning.
A critical part of that experience is that I have been exposed to some incredibly impressive senior Officers and Soldiers during my career. It is these role model leaders from whom I have probably learned the most (see more here).
It was during a tour with the United Nations when I learned an important new angle to Leadership from an inspirational female Major General (2 Star):
The fundamental requirement for a Leader to focus on themselves
This was a departure from the celebrated, and highly effective Servant Leadership approach encouraged by the British Army. However, I was to learn that her approach was complementary, not contradictory to what I thought I knew.
The General faced a significant leadership challenge — managing soldiers and civilians from a multitude of nations, in a delicate political context and an unstable security situation, to deliver a seemingly unachievable mission.
The clash of cultures, opinions and approaches in the force would have overwhelmed most leaders. The variations among the troops from contributing nations ranged from tactics, to disciplinary policy, even to different perceptions of the utility of females in the military! With the added complexity of the operational situation within which we worked, she had a serious challenge on her hands.
Precise, considered and insightful, she deftly managed the situation. Her unwavering professionalism, infallible military judgement and comprehensive credibility were deeply impressive.
She generated cohesion where there had been none, tactical progress against the odds, and set the mission on the right path towards success. She was an outstanding military leader.
I was always struck by how she managed to so effectively navigate the challenges she faced. I approached her towards the end of the deployment and asked if she would be willing to brief my troops (100 or so) on her approach to Leadership.
A testament to her character, she found the time. The briefing she delivered significantly shifted my view of what the focus of Leadership can be about.
A female who joined the Army in the late 80s, she was the first in her Army to pass the Platoon Commander Course. This qualified her to command Infantry soldiers in battle, a first for her nation, and an opportunity which the British Army and US Army have only opened up to females in the last 3 years.
She was then the first female infantry parachutist, again, breaking through the challenges in front of her. Decorated for bravery on operations, she proceeded through the various levels of Command.
Meanwhile, she went through a divorce and raised two daughters, balancing her duties as a mother and an Army Officer —seemingly excelling at both.
The fact she was female is not the point, but it highlights some of the challenges she faced and overcame, and was instructive of where she was today — an insightful, highly professional and empathetic leader.
She then explained the four tenets she has used to frame her approach, to life and leadership: Know Yourself, Be Yourself, Back Yourself, Look After Yourself.
My interpretation of what she said is as follows:
Know Yourself
You need to understand what motivates you, what your strengths and weaknesses are, how others perceive you, what your body language says. Everything if important.
You must conduct a full audit of your own character, capabilities and bearing — all are fundamental to how you can effectively lead.
Your characteristics will help you succeed as a leader, rather than you being doomed to fail because you don’t have certain traits.
Leadership is an immensely personal endeavour, and different for each and every one of us. To lead with authenticity, you have to know who you are.
Be Yourself
Once you understand exactly who you are, and what you can do, embrace it.
You can not contrive vision if you have none. You can not pretend to be technically competent if you are not. Don’t try and be funny if you can never land a punchline.
Instead, you need to amplify your strengths and reduce your weaknesses. Approach this step as trying to optimizing yourself, whilst maintaining the integrity of who you are.
If you are a strong public speaker but lack the ability to convey your thoughts and ideas well on paper, use the former approach to address your team, while simultaneously working on your written work.
If you are technically strong but less able to speak publicly — show your team that you can actively lead them in the work. This will build your confidence and theirs, making them more receptive to your developing oratory skills.
The premise is simple, you must always be yourself. If you are not, you will be exposed almost immediately and lose any credibility with your team. They will know is you are not being authentic. They always do.
Once you embrace being you, make yourself the best version of you-you can be. Exploit your strengths and develop your weaknesses. Focus on optimizing yourself, focus on You.
Back Yourself
The power of positive thought and how you frame your approach is key to leading effectively.
Being yourself can be an anxious process for people. You are exposed. You are by definition putting yourself out there with no shield of pretense or remote defence.
You are being you, and if people don’t like it, that can be tough.
Back yourself, the confidence in being you will grow, as will the confidence your team have in you. Most importantly, the positive feedback loop you then create will generate critical momentum: it works as follows:
You present yourself in an exposed leadership position being authentically you. People notice, and respond positively. This reinforces that you being you is a good thing, so you generate more confidence. You lead as you with more resolve. The team sees it, and their confidence grows in turn. The confidence-building cycle continues.
A positive, self-reinforcing cycle of projecting authenticity, getting results and increasing confidence can and will be immensely powerful.
Back yourself — you will be more effective in more different ways than you can possibly fathom.
Look After Yourself
You cannot lead if you cannot operate.
Your physical, emotional, and mental well being is paramount. If you are unable to step up and lead your team because you have failed to maintain your own health, you will be failing your avid followers.
No matter how effective you are as a leader when you are present and engaged, it will be for nothing if you can’t maintain it and be there for your team.
You are your most important commodity — look after You, only then can you look after your followers and lead them to success.
To Conclude
I started this article talking about how I have been subject to some of the best leadership training you can get, and had a career of continued development.
Encountering great leaders, like the General in question, is part of what makes my job such an engaging journey. It is also evidence that you must never stop learning — the privilege of commanding and leading soldiers demands I do my very best.
With her role model behavior, unwavering integrity and credibility, she profoundly influenced my views on leadership.
What’s more, is that although a focus on you, the Leader, may seem to contradict the idea that leaders must serve their followers, it does just the opposite.
You cannot hope to lead from a position of weakness. You must understand yourself to be the most authentic and considered Leader you can be.
There are many ways to do it, and it is a personal process, but you will undoubtedly benefit from considering the General’s wise words:
Know Yourself. Leadership is an immensely personal endeavour, and different for each and every one of us. To lead with Authenticity, you have to know who you are.
Be Yourself. Once you embrace being you, make yourself the best version of you-you can be. Exploit your strengths and develop your weaknesses. Focus on optimizing yourself, focus on You.
Back Yourself. You will be more effective in more different ways than you can possibly fathom.
Look After Yourself. You are your most important commodity — look after You, only then can you look after your followers and lead them to success.
Successful and consistent leadership requires a self-aware and effective leader.
Be authentic, have the integrity of self and purpose, and create a culture of mutual trust, respect and confidence.
Understand and invest in yourself, only then will you ensure you are the best leader you can be, and the Leader that your followers deserve.
