A631.5.4.RB - Leading System Wide Change

In the Apple video, Think Differently, you hear words like, “rebels”, “trouble makers” and “ones who see things differently.”  These are all negative comments about people that were the catalyst for a positive society.  Just imagine the world without the contributions that these individuals made.  This video made you think adversely about people/employees who started a mini revolution.  They were forward thinkers that worked their way to the top while being able to adapt to their environment, never losing sight of the objective.  What makes these so call rebel leaders so great is the fact that they were catalysts for change.  In 2009, Entrepreneur and blogger Seth Godin did a power speech on TED Talks.  In that speech, he argued that things like the internet give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change (http://www.ted.com/talks/seth_godin_on_the_tribes_we_lead).

It’s hard enough being a leader in modern day society.  Today’s leaders must deal with many unpredictable situations; however, the one constant is the knowledge that change is the only true thing that is guaranteed.  With this understanding, what is required for a leader to be successful?  To me there is no one trait that will make a leader successful.  Author Simon Sinek (2009) describes how it is that great leaders inspire action, why some people are able to achieve things, when others are not.  In his own way, he is a rebel who wants to change the way of looking at how people approach what they do (http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en).  It is said there is a very fine line between crazy and genius.  Men like Albert Einstein have introduced changes that still affect the entire world today.  Einstein was known as very eccentric and quite possibly crazy; however, his mathematical mind and theories will forever make their mark on mathematics and the sciences.  He was the perfect example of a leader who drove change despite what others thought about him. He was someone who stepped outside of the box to solve a problem that affected a society.

Let us put things into perspective when it comes to business and society leaders.   Not everyone in leadership positions will be considered a great leader; those who become truly transformational begin with themselves and have a vision.  I can’t say that one single leadership trait or attribute makes one successful.  The traits that come to mind when thinking of leaders of change include honesty (with oneself and others), courage (the drive and desire to go against the norm), commitment (sacrifice and servitude), the ability to inspire and relate to others, the ability to communicate with others (it serves no purpose if no one understands your message), strategic thinking (able to deal with and overcome uncertainty) and last but not least, passion for what you are doing.  When you look at today’s successful companies, their leaders emulate passion.  For example, Steve Jobs of Apple was a man that was extremely passionate about his ideas for change in the technology industry.  One could say, he gave the technology industry a needed jolt of electricity.  Some critics called Jobs a tyrannical leader that pushed his people too.  Maybe he did push hard because he had the traits of a leader.  These are just a few important traits, but in a way that is still a lot to put on one person; who would want such a responsibility.  The Apple video made a great point; leaders are the “crazy ones.”