Tip #35: How To Think Like A Leader

Posted on | April 15, 2009 |

leadership thinking The thought process of a leader is different from that of followers. Sure, leaders are usually very smart and have access to plenty of specialized knowledge and experience to help them make decisions; but these characteristics are not what make leaders “different” thinkers. What makes leaders different is their ability to think critically in leadership situations. Critical thinking is the key. So how does one go about thinking critically to make the right choices in leadership situations? Here are some tips on how to think like a leader:

Know what is going on – Be aware of what is going on within the organization and recognize when action needs to be taken. You can do this by practicing MBWA (managing by walking around – and talking to people)

Figure out why something is going on – Once a problem (or multiple problems) have been recognized, the next step is to figure out why it is occurring. For instance, if you identify that employees are consistently showing up late to work, try and understand why this is the case (maybe they have small children they need to drop off at school, or they use unreliable public transportation, or they are simply not being held accountable for unprofessional behavior) – Be clear and accurate about the cause(s) of the problem(s).

Take action – If you are sure you know what the problem is, it’s time to come up with a course of action to address the real issue(s) (see previous bullet point).

Thinking like a leader requires you to be aware, thoughtful, and action oriented when called upon to lead. Though your choices and decisions may not always work out the way you plan, the fact that you have consciously made a plan (even if it is a quick analysis in you head) gives you the opportunity to make good decisions.