He was a leader in a large service-driven corporation. He had vision and could set short-term as well as long-term goals. His delegation skills were superb. The problem was that he refused to engage. While his team executed the work, he continued to give directions. This leader refused to lead from the front lines. Instead he tried to lead solely from the back.
While a leader must possess the ability to plan and set the vision, he must also be willing to lead from the front. Staying out of the action sends a message to our team that we are not engaged and that we are not willing to get our hands dirty.
One of the most common issues I hear about from employees is that the leaders at the top do not take the time or make the effort to engage the front lines. Effective leaders realize the importance of balancing vision and engagement.
Deciding to connect with front-line team members sends a strong message that all employees are important. Choose to lead from the front and you will make a difference.
- Larry
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