Many organizations attempt to develop leaders with a fragmented, hit-and-miss approach. They often follow the latest fad or best-selling book. Most leadership development initiatives focus on teaching a checklist of competencies, or merely one facet of leadership believing that this will be enough to help leaders lead well. Leadership is much more complex than that.
The best leaders — total leaders — excel at all facets of leadership. The Total Leader concept identifies four broad areas or levels that a person must master to become a Total Leader. We enable people to lead themselves and others exceptionally well through four programs:
Personal productivity is the foundation of all effective leadership. Personal productivity is the ability to manage yourself, manage your time, and manage your priorities to operate at maximum performance. It is only when you can optimize your own performance that you are truly able to increase the performance of others.
Personal leadership is the ability to lead yourself — to be a leader of your own life. Most people simply let life happen to them, hoping for the best. Personal leaders determine the life they want, and then through planning and action make it happen. Personal leadership also means becoming a Total Person — a person who is growing and developing in all six areas of life, including Family and Home, Financial and Career, Mental and Educational, Physical and Health, Social and Cultural, and Spiritual and Ethical. Personal leadership is the core of an individual’s character and the basis for developing trusting relationships that are vital to leading others.
Motivational leadership is the capability to lead and motivate others. A motivational leader understands that people are the source of all progress and innovation, thus the key to business success in the 21st century. Inspiring motivation in others is crucial to developing a productive and engaged team. A motivational leader can help people develop and use more of their full potential.
Strategic leadership is the ability to lead an organization. A strategic leader works through teamwork and collaboration to define and develop the purpose of the organization, the key strategies, the optimum structure, the right people in the right roles, and the most effective processes for an organization to succeed. Strategic leadership is setting the course, following through, and executing the plan to completion.