Leadership - the fundamentals (part one).

Many years ago I interviewed for a job that I wanted more than I’d wanted any job before. I’d spent the last 18 months building a high performing, high profile team, and this was an opportunity for me to continue that role at a higher level, delegating day-to-day control of that team to my excellent deputy and reforming four more teams in the same area.

I got the job, and went on to have the best experience of my employed life. But one bit of feedback from the interview has stuck with me ever since. I was told I was too theoretical. I had spent too long talking about leadership theory.

It was a good lesson – I changed my approach to interviews from then on. But I found it odd feedback for all that. I’d only talked about one theory of leadership, and it's one I’ve found relentlessly useful. In fact it's probably the most basic yet effective tool I've found for leadership of small (c3 - 10 people teams).

I’ve never stopped finding that theory useful, and the more time I’ve spend delivering training and coaching to leaders, the more fundamental I’ve found the principles of Action Centred Leadership.

Action Centred Leadership is a popular leadership framework that has been around for over 30 years. It is based on the idea that successful leaders need to balance three main areas of action: task, team, and individual. The framework provides a practical approach to leadership that can be applied to any team or organization.

Action Centred Leadership focuses on helping leaders to become more effective and efficient in their roles. It encourages leaders to take an active and hands-on role in managing their teams and organizations. By doing this, leaders can ensure that tasks are completed on time and that everyone is working towards the same goals, while not sacrificing the long term value of building stronger teams and more capable employees.

The framework is based on the belief that effective leaders need to have an understanding of both the task and the people involved. Leaders should be able to identify and understand the needs of each individual on their team and how those needs fit within the broader goals of the organization. Leaders should also be able to motivate their team members and create an environment where everyone can work together to achieve their goals.

Action Centred Leadership also emphasizes the importance of communication. Leaders should be able to communicate clearly and effectively with their team members and other stakeholders. This will help to ensure that everyone understands the tasks they need to complete and how they fit into the overall goals of the organization.

At the heart of Action Centred Leadership is the idea that leaders should be flexible and open to change. Leaders should be willing to adjust their approach as needed in order to better meet the needs of their team and organization. This means that leaders should be able to adjust their strategies and tactics in order to better manage their team and organization.

Action Centred Leadership is a great framework for any leader who wants to become more effective and efficient in their role. By understanding the three main areas of action and how they fit into the overall goals of the organization, leaders can ensure that their teams and organizations are operating at their best. By understanding the needs of their team members and communicating effectively, leaders can create a positive and productive work environment. Finally, by remaining flexible and open to change, leaders can ensure that their teams and organizations are constantly evolving and improving.