Want to Be a 5-Star Leader? Do These 2 Essential Things

How often do you hear phrases like these from those around you?

• “I am so energized by my job.”

• “I have grown so much because of my supervisor.”

• “I have been stretched in my position.”

Or, how about these phrases?

• “I have no clue what my boss wants from me.”

• “Most days I dread going back to my job.”

• “My boss is so nasty; he is toxic!”

For better or for worse, leaders create culture. This is true in families, businesses, communities, and churches. The chart below brings two essential elements into focus: expectations and support.

• High expectations from a leader are those that are challenging, clear, attainable, and purposeful.

• Excellent support from a leader includes communication, encouragement, resources, and trust.

The most desirous culture, which also happens to be the culture that contributes to the greatest long-term performance, is one where a leader sets high expectations but also provides the support necessary to succeed.

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• Destructive Culture: When a leader expects exceptional performance but provides little support. Produces a toxic environment and high turnover.

• Depressive Culture: When a leader provides neither expectations nor support. Results in attracting low talent and turnover.

• Degenerative Culture: When a leader provides a supportive environment but does not expect much. Produces a relational culture and results in eventual decline.

• Desirous Culture: When a leader provides high expectations along with high support. Attracts top talent and produces positivity and results.

Which of the four boxes best reflects your culture? And if you are a leader, which box do you believe your team would say best describes your culture?

No leader is a consistent creator of great organizational culture or team culture. And the same is true of each team member. But leaders have a greater burden of responsibility when it comes to culture. What are you doing to provide excellent expectations and support to those around you? One without the other will result in a culture that is less than desirable, and it is only a desirous culture that will attract and retain the best team members and produce the greatest results.

Contact us to learn how our experienced consultants can assist you in creating a healthy culture within your organization.

Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.