You Set The Tone

Photo by Josh Withers on Unsplash

We tend to think of massive entities - ‘working’ entities from big companies to big countries - as having a life of their own. Once they’re set on their way, they progress forward, taking out everything in their path. They have the power of momentum behind them, fueled by past success, money, resources, what-have-you. Forget stopping them in their tracks, just altering their path or slowing them down is difficult to do. Massive entities are very, very difficult to stop.

It does happen, though, and in my last post I talked about how leadership isn’t guaranteed, and how there are all types of reasons why that’s the case. 

Some of these forces are external and represent the sheer force of competitive change and innovation that occurs, usually over some stretch of time, but sometimes in the blink of an eye. 

In most situations, though, and frankly even when external forces play a material role, the real culprit is a lack of effective leadership.

Leaders set the direction. Where are we going? What are we focused on? Who are we serving? How will we get there? How will we measure our success? 

But leaders do more than simply lay out the plan. They also set the tone. Why are we going there? What values are we building upon? Who are we bringing with us?

True leaders know this at an intrinsic level, and they factor it into the culture. They remind their people of this at every turn, at every opportunity. Not because it’s what they think should be said, but because it’s what needs to be said. 

Because the very foundations of true, long term success - success built with their people, and not on the backs of those people - require it. 

Without it, even the biggest among us will veer off-course and, eventually, lose our way. And course-correcting then, becomes much more difficult, almost impossible. 

As the leader, you set the tone. 

Who are you bringing with you?