Leadership - "Keeping It Real"

Through years of experience in the corporate environment one learns how to navigate the rewards and pitfalls of the political tides. There is always an option regardless of the politics to keep it real. Your staff and peers will recognize and respond to your candor allowing clarity to drive success to meet both organizational and personal goals. The reality is that all situations must be taken in the context of how the wheels of the machine operate. Knowing how to avoid negative consequences and preserve your values is clearly an art. People welcome the opportunity to shed the façade, roll up their sleeves and execute to the business at hand. The value of “keeping it real” is you will realize the dedication and productivity of staff and teams. When the distractions are stripped, more value is delivered!

If the formula is simple, why is it a rarity in corporate leadership styles? The standard paradigm is based on “win/lose”; i.e., position of power “wins”. The art of finding the balance is in the “win/win.” To move the game to that outcome, one must be very observant and clever. You must listen and study what drives the power of those in the win position. You must craft an outcome that will preserve their credit and blend their ideas into the process. Moving your approach from “lose” to “win” must be subtle. The ultimate goal is to stack up several small wins to eventually move the culture in a positive direction.

Not all change comes from wins. it is equally important to know what battles to fight. Investing energy in areas that will not change, reduces your overall effectiveness. Keeping it real also requires accepting these situations and being honest with those who assess scenarios as “right and wrong” to help them accept the outcome and move on.

Why put all the energy it takes to challenge the tide and keep it real? The reward is enormous. You may have some difficult climbs in your career ladder; however, your followers will respect you with a dedication that has little boundaries and they will grow into leaders that “keep it real”.