Q&A with Bob Rosen, author of Grounded
Leaders' health may sound like a soft topic to some. How does it affect the bottom line?Well-being is a current hot topic of interest in many areas. For example, healthy employees simply cost companies less in almost every way. Healthy leaders are also more adept at adapting to the rapid pace of change. They simply get better business results. What's more, it's hard to argue with statistics. Our studies with hundreds of leaders over more than 20 years show a strong relationship between health and performance.
What does healthy leadership look like?Healthy leaders are disciplined, self-aware and committed to personal growth for themselves and for those around them. They are attuned to four agendas. The financial agenda helps them assure that they have the capital and results required for continuity, success and growth. The operations agenda helps assure efficiency, the right investments, and processes for everything from accounting to innovation. The market agenda keeps them tuned to their customers, competitors, and the changing demands they will face. Most importantly, they focus on the human agenda, which healthy leaders recognize is the underpinning for the other three.
Why is there a gap between the leaders we have and the leaders we need?Our preoccupation with competencies and results has created a superficial view of leadership. Competencies are important, but insufficient as indicators for the wisdom, judgment, decisiveness and courage that underlie great leadership. Our research clearly indicates that who you are shapes what you do. I think we've had that idea reversed for quite some time.
How can leaders stay grounded when everything around them is unstable?Staying grounded in today's world takes commitment and discipline. It means being authentic, transparent, and staying true to one's values. We think our model is a very useful tool in helping people stay true to their authentic roots, discovering their strengths, and identifying areas in which they need to develop.
What steps can be taken to achieve healthy leadership?First, a leader should remember that there's a huge difference between excellence and perfection. It's important not to let perfection get in the way of excellence. One mistake or vulnerability does not define a person. Imperfections make us human. Being aware and letting others in on our abilities and our needs can help us be better human beings and better leaders. Then, leaders must think about the investments of time and effort they can make to continue to improve, particularly in those dimensions that most need shoring up.
What are ways that healthy leaders can create conditions for engagement, both for themselves and for others?Leaders can take a breath, create time and space for authentic connection and meaningful conversations. Get people to think creatively about what the longer view looks like and what their aspirations are, instead of constantly focusing on immediate needs. Appraisal and reward systems need to recognize the value of making these investments of time and energy.