Effective Executive need not be a Charismatic Leader

I learnt a new phrase ‘all over the map’. I came across this phrase written by none other than the Father of Modern Management Peter Drucker. He wrote ‘They were all over the map in terms of personalities, attitudes, values, strengths and weaknesses. They ranged from extroverted to nearly reclusive, from easygoing to controlling, from generous to parsimonious’. He was referring to Effective Executives. But what was common in all Effective Executives was that they followed the same eight practices: They asked what needs to be done? , what is right for the enterprise? , they developed action plans, they took responsibility for decisions, they took responsibility for communicating, they focused on opportunities rather than problems, they ran productive meetings and they thought and said “we” rather than “I”. The first two practices gave them the knowledge they needed. The next four helped them convert this knowledge into effective action. The last two ensured that the whole organization felt responsible and accountable. Leadership is not about charisma or extroversion. It’s about these practices.