Leaders Need Advice

Posted in Leadership by Khalid Al-Zanki
Thursday, June 11 2009 at 11:12 PM - 1 Comment

Jun 11

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Leaders seek the collective wisdom of the team. If it's true that the lawyer who represent himself has a fool for a client, it is equally true that the leader who advises himself has a fool for a counselor. The experts teach us that there is wisdom in many counselors. Each of us has a "web of wisdom" that we many resource for the solution to a problem or the direction of a plan. The web consists of wise and learned relatives, friends, or associates who have graduated from the school of experience.

Nobody succeeds alone. Even the lonely marathon runner has a coach. There are times of concentrated running and times of intense listening. The runner's counsel directly affects his or her reaching the goal.

The best leaders surround themselves with bright lights. They know that they are not above the advice of their subordinates. Since their team members were chosen because of their knowledge and skill, they are a well of ideas. Great Leaders will draw confidently from that well with quite regularity. Outstanding leaders know they need advice, and they seek it.

"Anger and haste hinder good counsel."
~ English Proverb

Let's Lead with Passion!

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    Gautam
    BLOG VISITOR
    Friday, June 12 2009 at 12:06 AM

    Hi Khalid,

    You are very right - leaders do need advice and guidance, just like anybody else. Also that the web of wisdon should include the friends, colleagues. subordinates and so on. However the risk is that if a leader relies solely on the advice of people that he has chosen to surround himself with, he may end up hearing only what he wants to hear in the first place.

    If a leader is not really open to hearing unpleasant opinions, his subordinates will slowly turn into sycophants (or worse, leave him) and it may soon become a vicious cycle - he listens only to what he wants and they say only what he wants to listen.

    I think this is where the value of external guides and independent consultants comes in. Any good leader should be open to hearing independent opinion and acting upon it for continual improvement.

    Best Regards

    Gautam

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