In our view leadership makes a tangible difference to business performance but it is not something that can be understood simply or acted upon mechanistically. If it is approached formulaically then it becomes just another task to be completed and has little positive impact on the business. However if leadership, in its widest sense, can be harnessed then it becomes a powerful way of driving forward the business agenda and delivering results.
To remind ourselves of this we use the following metaphor, where ‘great art’ refers to leadership which works and ‘painting by numbers ‘ reflects a mechanistic approach.
Great Art (leadership which works) is about:
Inspiration
Organic development
Being on a journey that is both frustrating and exciting but rarely completed
Responding to the changing context
A process which is fundamentally unstable and hard work
Stretching the capabilities of the individual
Having a unique view
Resulting in:
A unique creation with real value now and into the future.
Painting By Numbers (mechanistic leadership) is about:
Following a formula
Linear development
Being solely focused on completion
Continuing with the same approach however effective
A process that is predictable and might be hard work
Sticking with existing skills and knowledge
Producing a copy
Resulting in:
A bland copy with little current and no lasting value.
