Unleashing the Full Power of Leadership: Mastering the 360-Degree Approach

by RONALD GRAVES

For many years I was under the mistaken impression that leadership was vertical, and it only worked down. In other words, I could only lead those who were below me on the organizational chart. But then I read John Maxwell’s book, The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization. Only then did I realize that I could not only lead down, but across, and even up. Yes, I said up!

This groundbreaking principle allowed me to take my leadership to a new level. Infact, it’s so significant that John dedicated an entire section of his book to explaining how to apply it. The following is a summary the 9 Principles of Leading Up in outline format:

Lead-up Principle #1

Lead yourself exceptionally well. To self-manage, as a leader you must 1) manage your emotions, 2) manage your team, 3) manage your priorities, 4) manage your energy, 5) manage your thinking, 6) manage your words, and 7) manage your personal life.

Lead-up Principle #2

Lighten your leader’s load. You can lighten your leader’s load by 1) doing your own job well first, 2) providing a solution to each problem you find, 3) telling your leader what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, 4) going the second mile, 5) standing up for your leader whenever you can, 6) standing in for your leader whenever you can, and 7) asking your leader how you can lighten the load.

Lead-up Principle #3

Be willing to do what others won’t. What this means is 1) take the tough jobs, 2) pay your dues, 3) work in obscurity, 4) succeed with difficult people, 5) put yourself on the line, 6) never make excuses, 7) do more than expected, 8) be the first to step up and help, 9) perform tasks that are “not your job,” and 10) take responsibility for your team’s responsibilities.

Lead-up Principle #4

Do more than manage—lead! This includes 1) thinking longer term, 2) seeing within the larger context, 3) pushing boundaries, 4) putting the emphasis on intangibles, 5) learning to rely on intuition, 6) investing power in others, and 7) seeing yourself as an agent of change.

Lead-up Principle #5

Invest in relational chemistry. You can build a strong relationship by 1) listening to your leader’s heartbeat, 2) knowing your leader’s priorities, 3) catching your leader’s enthusiasm, 4) supporting your leader’s vision, 5) connecting with your leader’s interests, 6) understanding your leader’s personality, 7) earning your leader’s trust, 8) learning to work with your leader’s weaknesses.

Lead-up Principle #6

Be prepared every time you take your leader’s time. This means 1) investing in 10X (spend 10 minutes preparing for every minute you expect to meet), 2) don’t make your boss think for you, 3) bring something to the talk, 4) when asked to speak, don’t wing it, 5) learn to speak your boss’s language, 6) get to the bottom line, and 7) give a return on your leader’s investment.

Lead-up Principle #7

Know when to push and when to back off. Push forward when 1) you know something your boss does not, but he needs to, 2) time is running out, 3) your responsibilities are at risk, and 4) you can help your boss win. Back off when 1) you are promoting your own personal agenda, 2) you have already made your point, 3) everyone but you must take the risk, 4) the atmosphere says “no”, 5) the timing is right only for you, and 6) your request exceeds the relationship.

Lead-up Principle #8

Become a go-to player. As a go-to player, you produce when 1) the pressure is on, 2) the resources are few, 3) the momentum is low, 4) the load is heavy, 5) the leader is absent, and 6) time is limited.

Lead-up Principle #9

Be better tomorrow than you are today. Make sure you 1) learn your craft today, 2) talk your craft today, and 3) practice your craft today.

More about Ronald Graves

Ronald helps corporate leaders & executives in manufacturing increase performance, improve leadership skills, make better (and more profitable decisions), and increase revenue & profitability while reducing waste and unnecessary expense.