Welcome to another week of the Transformational Leadership Series.
Four weeks ago, we discussed ‘Leadership and Influence’. In that installation, we defined leadership using the U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual, as, “influencing people—by providing purpose, direction, and motivation—while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization.” In subsequent weeks, we expanded upon what it means to influence people—by providing purpose, direction, and motivation:
This week, we continue with expanding further on the above stated definition of leadership—specifically focusing on the word ‘operating’.
RECAP
We have already explained that leadership has to do with influencing people. Influencing involves giving people a goal, aim or end (purpose) and showing them how to attain that goal (direction). It also involves stimulating people toward the action(s) that will result in the fulfillment of the purpose (motivation). This must be done “while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization”.
OPERATING
Actions taken to influence others serve to accomplish operating actions, those actions you take to achieve the short-term goal of accomplishing the mission— U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual
The individual actions taken by each inspired team member to attain the ultimate mission is what is referred to as operating. It involves:
- planning and preparing (laying out the work and making the necessary arrangements)
- executing (doing the job)
- assessing (learning how to work smarter next time)
The above points are taken from the U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual. Other leadership books use another approach based on French industrialist Henri Fayol’s five functions of management, four of which are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
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U.S. Army Leadership Field Manual |
Henri Fayol’s functions of management |
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Planning and Preparing |
Planning and Organizing |
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Executing |
Leading |
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Assessing |
Controlling |
Leadership requires all the above—even when it has to do with accomplishing short term goals that add up to the fulfilling of the bigger mission. Thus true transformational Leadership requires the knowledge and application of all of the above.
