GLUE - on a single page

My book GLUE is now out in the wild, published last month, and sparking a conversation about a new mode of leadership for the way we now work and live.  I was asked by Linked-in Book Club to craft a single page summary for the book, so I settled on the key leadership behaviours that make a difference in creating glue.

If you want to create organisational glue, then your leadership behaviours matter, as they are observed, recognised, and emulated in the firm. Exemplar leaders demonstrate four complementary qualities; an ability to:

Galvanise

Being able to galvanise others when the pressure and complexity gauges are all turned up to 11 is an extraordinarily valuable skill.  The leader who can excite others about the future, winning hearts, and minds, and draw the best from all involved is a rarity. They see that it’s not about demonstrating their own capabilities, but opportunities to unleash other’s talents.
Glue pro-tip: Bring together a talented group from very different parts of the business to collaborate on an experiment – a crazy idea that might illuminate some learning, even if it fails.

Listen

As a leader, you’re expected to communicate a clear vision with conviction.  But your super-power is probably much more rarely used: your listening skills.  Leaders need to hear with acuity, to be attuned to the organisation, its people and mood.
Glue pro-tip: If someone asks you a question, always ensure that you have heard, or understood, it correctly before responding.  In that moment of pause, you will let others sense you have listened.

Be Unusual
 
The best leaders aren’t just authentic and open, but a little unusual compared to the norm.  Unusual is important, because it’s rare, and therefore gets noticed. It intrigues peers, colleagues and team members and makes leaders memorable.
Glue pro-tip: Be reassured though, you do not need to look, act, or behave in a crazy oddball contrarian way. You just have to deviate in small ways from the norm.

Engage

The glue creating leader engages deeply and with a purpose. Firing people up is one thing, but maintaining connection, collaboration and engagement over time takes commitment, an investment of ideas, and a personal amount of ‘you'. You need to be found alongside, accessible but candid, and regularly encouraging levity and fun.
Glue pro-tip: turn up unexpectedly to office-farewells or other communal moments.  No speeches or formalities, just genuinely (and briefly) join others in saying thanks and farewell.  You cannot underestimate how well that small demonstration of decency will be regarded.

The hybrid leader’s principal role is to harness disparate talents to see value in connection, to be the person who joins the dots and helps make work feel meaningful again. 

If you would like to find out more about GLUE - head to the GLUE tab and get stuck in.