Leadership involves clearly communicating a vision.
I have always loved the fable of The Little Red Hen. If you are unfamiliar with the general story line, take a moment to read one of the many variations of this classic. Otherwise, please accept this spoiler alert. While the moral of the story is that only those who make an effort to participate in the production of something of value should expect to partake of its benefits, I am intrigued by the notion that the Little Red Hen successfully brought to fruition the fresh bread from a few grains of wheat all by herself. We may be tempted to take away the notion that we can accomplish any number of endeavors by ourselves and not need to share the spoils of our efforts. While I possess no philosophical nor theological objection to that notion (after all, St. Paul urges the Thessalonians to not let anyone eat who is unwilling to work), I have seldom witnessed a solo coup in practical application, especially in the context of business triumph. On the contrary, you can scarcely cite an example of entrepreneurial success that is not the result of a concerted team effort. Furthermore, as Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, contends, "The team who fields the best players wins!" Therefore, to those wishing to tilt the odds of success in their favor, I advise focusing a great deal on attracting, hiring, developing, and maintaining the best team members possible. Then, (and here's the critical part) empower your team.
Great businesses and great leaders go hand-in-hand. Even the best team members can flounder in the absence of an effective leader. Leadership involves clearly communicating a vision. Perhaps, the Little Red Hen suffered from insufficient leadership skills. She certainly could have spent a little more time painting the picture of a bright future eating wonderful bread (pun unintended5) when seeking buy-in from the other animals. Or, it may have been that she lacked recruitment prowess and merely needed someone from Animal Resources "AR" (...means something entirely different in farmyard jargon) to assist. Having a brilliant idea and unmatched work ethic will only take you so far. Eventually, time becomes a limiting factor and a team with well-aligned objectives6 is imperative. If a business cannot scale, it may be that its owner is following the example of the Little Red Hen. Consider the fate of the Little Red Hen in the absence of a team. Before long, the loaf of bread is eaten and she is back to square one. It would not take long to burn out the Little Red Hen while she is solely responsible for sowing, harvesting, milling, and baking. Which of these tasks is she best at performing? It is remiss not to remind you of how she found the grain of wheat to begin with; she was doing what she does best - what she loves to do: hunting and pecking.
The book does not shed light on whether she was able to continue hunting and pecking while running around trying to make bread. The story is actually a tragedy, if we are to accept that the Little Red Hen no longer does what she enjoys and was born to do because she is henceforth preoccupied with the pursuit of far too many other tasks. There is no shortage of tragic stories in the business world that started off with the makings of a fairy tale. People with passion start businesses around the world every day. They often have great ideas and robust work ethic. Often, these businesses experience remarkable success in the early stages, before stagnating or withering in light of the failure of a founder to surround herself with an empowered team with a clear vision.
Spend the requisite time ensuring your business can scale and grow in proportion to your aspirations. Share your vision with like-minded individuals who wish to help you make and eat the bread.
Leadership is one of the many essential characteristics that a manager or a business owner must have, but there are other obligations that a manager should seriously take note of. Have you ever heard of the 4 Obligations of Management? If not, click the button below and learn more about it.
What are your insights and reactions regarding what we have shared above? How much do you value leadership in your organization? How big impact does this have in your professional career? Let us know in the comments section below!