What is effective Leadership Contingent upon?

Just got back from my niece’s Birthday party. She’s 3 years old now – and I remember the day she was born like it was a few months ago. I clearly remember going with the family to the Hospital that night. All the nurses and staff doing their jobs to ensure everything would go as “smoothly” as possible. It’s interesting how once the Doctor arrived, a sense of everything “being in control” set in. Looking back now, I wonder: would “any” doctor set the same tone? Was it because those nurses and staff where so familiar with that doctor, that it made things seem like clockwork? Maybe. We can all agree that there are standard medical procedures. I’m sure they’ve been developed over the years to limit any risks of staff/nurse/doctor misunderstandings and miscommunications. For a moment, let’s put it in the light of “leadership” – that is, if the Doctor was the “Leader” envisioning a healthy baby delivery (and happy Mom, Dad, etc.), how effective would he be if this was his first delivery, and if none of the staff had ever him? Would all the “standard procedures” smooth it all out? – Or would there be “friction” and miscommunication ?

Other than medical dramas – I am not much for spending time in Hospitals. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have to work with the pressure of having human lives entrusted to your hands. I cannot even place myself in such an imaginary scenario where I would have to influence a group’s behavior based on my prognosis to try to save someone… and what if I were wrong? How do I live with myself? I’m sure most of us have dealt with pressure in the workplace in some sort, shape and form. Most of us may have had to make quick decisions – right, wrong and indifferent and live with the consequences.

Does “One size fit all” ?

I thought finding a wrist brace for my injured right hand would be easy. Isn’t it bad enough to struggle doing all with my left hand? Or at most contort my grip so that I don’t feel the excruciating pain? Sure – I just spent what felt like a half hour in the pharmacy isle finding the right support for my sprained wrist. There are big ones, small ones, some with “breathing materials”, others with extra support, reversible, expensive and more expensive. Oh – and just when I find the one I like, they only have it for the left hand. Just my luck.

There are so many items in our lives that are adjustable, reversible and “made to fit”. Even the “one size fits all” Baseball cap needs adjusting. If only we could approach issues in our lives just as simply. Or can we? We adjust our behaviors to those around us depending on the situation. For example, we don’t treat our new co-workers or boss the same way we treat our life-long friends or family. We adjust the way we behave to an optimal level for the situation.

As far as leadership goes - is it a “one size fits all” or completely “adjustable”? No doubt leadership requires a firm vision and clear direction. However, it also needs to be flexible –