Leadership Principles

There are a seemingly infinite number of books and workshops about leadership. (At our last Google search for business leadership seminars, the number was 372,000.) In this article, we share the Spartina principles of leadership, which have supported our own entrepreneurial success.

Integrity

One definition of integrity is that what you think, say, and do, are all in harmony. There is no shortcut, and no substitute for integrity. If you say you are going to do something, people know that you will do it. If you think that something is not appropriate, people know that you will not act on it. A consistent and principled approach helps everyone know where they stand with you. More importantly, it saves you time. When you know your own principles, you don’t waste a lot of time making decisions. You know intuitively if the action is coherent with your values and goals. For more about integrity, read the book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Following on the principle of integrity is the principle of action. Anyone can talk and dream. Not everyone has the courage to act on what they talk about. Action puts things into motion and can be a fearful situation. A leader acts, initiates, and responds to what arises in business.

No Blame

Actions lead to consequences. Some are unintended, some are expected. A leader always takes responsibility for the consequences of actions. “The Buck Stops Here” is an accurate assessment of a leader. Blame is not a valid activity for a leader. Self-examination and honest are the antidotes. For more about clear leadership without blame, read the book, Leadership and Self-deception.

Leading versus Managing

A leader inspires peoples with his vision and hard work. However, he does not do other people’s jobs. A leader says “What” to do; the manager is responsible for “How” to do it. It is very tempting to be a manager rather than a leader. Think of a leader as creating space for people’s unique way of creating to flourish. A manager will take the creativity and shape it; a leader will run along side offering encouragement and support. For more help in leading versus managing, read the book, True North by Bill George, Harvard Business School.

Creating Team Spirit

There is an old Chinese story (link to “ancient wisdom section) that illustrates the strength that lies in working together rather than alone. Part of the value of a leader is their ability to create an environment where team work flourishes, without negating individual inspiration. Think of four wheels on a car. The car will go nowhere fast if each wheel works independently of the other. However, at times, four-wheel drive can get you out of a tight spot. A leader creates and orchestrates the movement from team to individual work flawlessly.

For more Leadership, check out these Leadership programs:

Harvard Business School Conferences

Shambhala Institute for Authentic Leadership