Subject: Reading Response for "The Five Messages Leaders Must Manage."
“The five messages leaders must manage” is not a revelation, they are five common sense categories of running a business, with a modern approach to managing as solutions. John Hamm has observed first hand leaders struggle with running a company. John details both a bad and good examples of how a leader can approach each of the five messages. Not much is really discussed about the mechanics of communication, rather a specific attitude is outlined in the piece. It appears from the many years of John Hamm’s experience is that it’s hubris that should be avoided by leaders, and that a leader needs to be more of a humble team player than a strong omnipotent captain.
Be clear …show more content…
The “five messages” or leadership qualities that are described are qualities that I have looked for in from my own leaders and now feel I should take to heart for myself in leading my humble team of engineers. My current manager lacks in some of the qualities the are outlined. He rarely comes from a position of collaboration, he directs and corrects and praises, but it feels like it is not as if he is part of the team but rather just directing the team. Before reading this article it was hard for me to articulate why this was a problem. By behaving in this way, he does not connect with his reports, and the consequence is a habit of pigeonholing people, thinking that he knows them better then they know themselves. It is a toxic personality trait that challenges the spirit of any team. It is this hubris again that block the leader from seeking clarity, from getting feedback, and ultimately from find long-term success.
In conclusion
Leadership is as much about attitude as it is good ideas. Being a leader implies being part of a team or group of people. A good leader can get results out of a team, a great leader can get a team to give him results. This is not some simple play on words, it illustrates the perspective required to be a great leader. John Hamm’s article explores some real world examples of how this difference in perspective is important. A leader is not above the team; they are right alongside. A leader’s success is wholly dependent on the team. Leadership is not a one-way streak and neither is
“The five messages leaders must manage” is not a revelation, they are five common sense categories of running a business, with a modern approach to managing as solutions. John Hamm has observed first hand leaders struggle with running a company. John details both a bad and good examples of how a leader can approach each of the five messages. Not much is really discussed about the mechanics of communication, rather a specific attitude is outlined in the piece. It appears from the many years of John Hamm’s experience is that it’s hubris that should be avoided by leaders, and that a leader needs to be more of a humble team player than a strong omnipotent captain.
Be clear …show more content…
The “five messages” or leadership qualities that are described are qualities that I have looked for in from my own leaders and now feel I should take to heart for myself in leading my humble team of engineers. My current manager lacks in some of the qualities the are outlined. He rarely comes from a position of collaboration, he directs and corrects and praises, but it feels like it is not as if he is part of the team but rather just directing the team. Before reading this article it was hard for me to articulate why this was a problem. By behaving in this way, he does not connect with his reports, and the consequence is a habit of pigeonholing people, thinking that he knows them better then they know themselves. It is a toxic personality trait that challenges the spirit of any team. It is this hubris again that block the leader from seeking clarity, from getting feedback, and ultimately from find long-term success.
In conclusion
Leadership is as much about attitude as it is good ideas. Being a leader implies being part of a team or group of people. A good leader can get results out of a team, a great leader can get a team to give him results. This is not some simple play on words, it illustrates the perspective required to be a great leader. John Hamm’s article explores some real world examples of how this difference in perspective is important. A leader is not above the team; they are right alongside. A leader’s success is wholly dependent on the team. Leadership is not a one-way streak and neither is