Leading is a difficult and complex task. Leaders have to develop, inspire and moti- vate employees, while ensuring the organizational vision and processes are aligned with goals and objectives that achieve company growth and profitability. Rapid changes in technology and an uncertain political environment add an extra level of anxiety and uncertainty to an executive’s portfolio. Rarely does one ascend to lead- ership status with all the necessary intra and interpersonal competencies and techni- cal skills to achieve both the human and business demands of leadership. Having an MBA does not prepare one to self analyze and sort through biases, blinkers and blind spots. Once a leader elevates beyond mid management, an entirely different set of skills and competencies are needed to lead an organization and its people.


I know many of you reading this article are experts at what you do and because of your success you were tapped for leadership. In a month’s time, you went from managing processes, to having to develop teams, manage conflict, ethical behavior and communicate clear goals and objectives and quite honestly you’re overwhelmed but dare not say so aloud. Kate Ludeman and Eddie Erlandson wrote in the Harvard Business Review ‘The more pressure an alpha male feels to perform, the more he tends to shift his leadership style from constructive and challenging to intimidating or even abusive.” One of the most important competencies at the executive level is re- lationship management. Few enter the ranks of leadership knowing how to do it well without some form of training or coaching.


The task of leadership preparation largely goes untapped in many organizations be- 52 Kalon Women Magazine


May 2012


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