In 360-degree leadership, the leader is able to exert varying degrees of influence at different levels while still serving and putting purpose before them.
We’ve finally come to the end of our leadership series.
It has been many weeks of talking about leadership.
Writing (and reading more) about leadership has taught me a lot more, reinforcing what I know and eliminating some outdated ideas about leadership.
So far, we have explored the definition of leadership, discussed the importance of listening and learning in leadership, touched on emotional intelligence in leadership, discussed the importance of determination and resilience, the power of effective communication, servant leadership, humility as the secret sauce of great leadership, and discussed integrity the last time.
Today (to conclude), we will examine the leading “360 Degree” principle, developed by the famous leadership guru John Maxwell.
There’s a whole book on the 360-degree leadership principle. It’s an amazing book that goes into detail and thoroughly explains the principles of leading 360 degrees.
I will share the foundational principle of 360-degree leadership with you in this article. If you wish to delve deeper into the topic, you can also read the book for yourself.
The 360-degree leadership principle is about how leaders can lead all around—like a circle.
Their leadership is felt at the top, on their level, and down to the bottom.
They are not only concerned with leading the people under them; they’re also concerned about those on the same level and those above them.
John Maxwell calls it leading up, leading across and leading down.
Leading 360 degrees is a skill the leader must build into their consciousness.
They must know that it’s possible and important to lead 360 degrees.
Leadership is essentially influence, service, and purpose.
Take away these three elements, and leadership is empty and lacks any power.
Is there leadership without influence, service and purpose?
In 360-degree leadership, the leader is able to exert varying degrees of influence at different levels while still serving and putting purpose before them.
You Must Believe In Yourself
“If you wouldn’t follow yourself, why should anyone else?”
You don’t need a title to lead.
Leadership isn’t titles or positions.
Leadership is a mindset.
It’s a state of the heart.
It’s how we see ourselves in the world.
If you believe that you’ve something to offer, you will start seeing that you actually have something to offer and contribute.
But if you believe you have nothing to offer, you’ll never see yourself as someone with anything to offer.
The first and most important teaching in leadership is centred and focused inward—leading yourself.
The leader must believe in himself.
He must believe that he’s important and can contribute to the whole system.
Leaders ready to lead 360 degrees have matured to understand that they can contribute to the system all around—up, across and down.
We will not be able to discuss the principles of 360-degree leadership in depth.
However, let’s focus on the central ideas—leading up, leading across and leading down.
Leading Up
Leading up is all about understanding the purpose of any system you find yourself in and opening up your heart completely to help those up there!
Leaders who understand the importance of leading up have already mastered believing in themselves because they know they have something to offer.
They have value in them that others (people at the top) can benefit from.
In leading up, the leader must master the art of discovering what the top leaders need.
They must know how to make their work easier, not harder. They must understand the pressure top leaders endure and work wholeheartedly to make their work easier.
This is a very mature mindset. And it takes leaders who understand the effects of leading up to actually give themselves to helping those above them.
In leading up, the leader knows how to nurture and maintain relationships.
They know how to respect the leaders at the top.
They know that even though they might have something to contribute, they should still respect the leaders at the top.
They respect their positions and their unique experience, expertise, and skills. They are not trying to correct or do their jobs; they are only making it easier for them to perform their leadership duties.
They refuse to become thorns in the flesh of the leaders at the top. Instead, they work to help and assist them instead of making their lives harder.
They strengthen their influence by being available and ready to work with the leaders at the top.
The leaders at the top know those who make their work easy and those who make it difficult.
When they see that you’re willing and ready to work with them, it becomes easier for you to interact with and influence (not manipulate) them.
Leading Across
In leading across, leaders acknowledge those with them on the same level, always extend their hands to them, and work closely with them.
They don’t permit competition to kill relationships. They don’t see those on their levels as threats; instead, they see them as team members.
They always prioritise their purpose. They avoid selfishness and pride and pursue their purpose together.
We achieve much more when we work together as one unit rather than as separate entities.
This is the ultimate goal of leadership: to bring everyone together to work towards a common purpose.
Leadership is the cord that binds everyone together and pushes them towards one goal.
In leading across, you will be surprised to come across many who know better than you.
Leadership is service.
Most leaders dwell too much in the realms of influence. They do not understand that for influence to be effective, service must be involved because it is in service that we learn much more.
You don’t know everything. It’s not possible.
So, in service, you interact with people around you, helping and assisting, and in so doing, you’re learning and growing. The more you learn, the more wisdom and knowledge you absorb, which strengthens your influence.
Leading Down
This is where service becomes more needed. Leading down means acknowledging those you lead, the people looking up to you.
You show real and deep concern for them, are interested in their growth and development, and want to see them become even better than you.
That’s servant leadership.
Development takes a long time. So, the leader knows how to be calm and patient, gently following their people behind, correcting, helping, assisting, encouraging and leading by example.
They don’t just leave them all alone. They stay with them until they are mature enough.
Authentic leadership takes a lot of time, effort and sacrifice.
Most people don’t care about real leadership because it really takes time. Instead, the majority of people just want to mind their business and do their jobs.
It’s the few folks who are ready to jump out that actually make things happen and push the organisation or system to its purpose.
As a leader, your strength doesn’t always come from above or your level; it comes from beneath.
Those who look up to you. They are your true support system. Nurturing and investing in them indirectly translates into investing in yourself.
It’s A Long Road!
“To become a 360-degree Leader, you will have to pay a price. You will have to give up other opportunities in order to lead. You will have to sacrifice some personal goals for the sake of others. You will have to get out of your comfort zone and do things you’ve never done before. You will have to keep learning and growing when you don’t feel like it.”
John Maxwell.
Leadership is not easy. It’s deeper than what many of us think it is.
Most of us are just scratching the surface of leadership. We haven’t gone deep enough to really appreciate leadership.
Leadership is so much greater than positions and titles.
It’s more about the state and stature of the mind.
Many people sit on big seats, wield big sceptres and have large labels hanging on their necks, but are not true leaders.
They are just figures. Leadership is in the heart. It’s not easy. It’s hard. It’s about sacrifice, plenty of it.
True leadership rides on the back of sacrifice. Leaders who run away from sacrifice will never be able to make a strong and lasting impact.
Sacrifice to keep helping others. Sacrifice to keep growing and learning. Sacrifice to keep the purpose alive and fresh every day, every time.
What Do You Want To Do Now?
Remain where you are, or pick yourself up and start climbing! There’s always something new to learn when studying leadership because people are changing, you’re also changing, and the leaders’ biggest weapon is their ability to adjust and adapt while still preserving their leadership values.
Talking About Healthcare Leadership
For too long, healthcare leadership has been a discussion that doesn’t occupy the front seats because healthcare professionals usually don’t think they need to understand leadership.
They actually need to understand leadership because they are in a system that deals a lot with direct contact with people every day, especially those who deal with patients and clients.
Healthcare professionals can take what we’ve discussed and apply it to their professional lives.
They would be amazed at the tremendous difference it will make, both in their lives and in the quality of their relationships with those they interact with daily.
I am excited that we’ve reached the end of our “How To Become A Great Leader” series. We are working on making it a small e-book. If you’d like to know when the e-book is ready, join our Substack community or find us on social media.
We’re working on a couple of leadership topics and can’t wait to share them with you.
We would also start having other healthcare leaders (and leaders in general) share their experience, expertise, and thought leadership.
Don’t miss anything!
Stay connected, informed, inspired and intelligent.
Catch you next week.
