Upskilling your ability to lead change
Making Yourself Indispensable (HBR article by John H. Zenger, Joseph R. Folkman, and Scott K. Edinger)
The main point of the article is that in order to be a great leader, we must diversify our skills and not just deepen a single area of expertise.
Instead, they need to engage in the business equivalent of cross training - that is, to enhance complementary skills that will enable them to make fuller use of their strengths.
Once a few of their strengths have reached the level of outstanding, leaders become indispensable to their organizations despite the weaknesses they may have.”
(excerpt from Making Yourself Indispensable article)
The article shares strategies for identifying your core strengths and determining which complementary skills to focus on. I thought it was interesting that one of the core strengths listed was the ability to lead change. Below is a summary of the complementary skills that we should focus on based on a core strength.
If you are already strong in developing a strategic perspective, complementary skills for you to consider focusing on are:
- focusing on customers
- innovation
- solving problems and analyzing issues
- communicating powerfully and broadly
- establishing stretch goals
- demonstrating business acumen
- championing change
- inspiring and motivating others
If you are already strong in championing change, complementary skills for you to consider focusing on are:
- inspiring and motivating others
- building relationships and networks
- developing others
- providing rewards and recognition
- practicing inclusion and valuing diversity
- innovation
- focusing on results
- being willing to take risks and challenge the status quo
- developing a strategic perspective
If you are already strong in connecting the group to the outside world, complementary skills for you to consider focusing on are:
- developing a broad perspective
- developing a strategic perspective
- inspiring and motivating others
- exercising strong interpersonal skills
- taking initiative
- gathering and assimilating information
- championing change
- communicating powerfully and broadly
I hope this was helpful. If it would be more helpful for me to point to some resources to help develop those complementary skills, drop me a note in the comments and let me know!