The 7 Secrets of Neuron Leadership

IntroductionThe Definition of a Leader

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.

—JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

Over the past decade, as an executive consultant and coach for dozens of the world's largest and most innovative companies, I've watched my clients spend millions with Big Five consulting firms to implement change management or leadership (Figure I.1) development initiatives. Many months later, these consulting firms delivered comprehensive and detailed Lean and Six Sigma roadmaps to a glorious future based on the latest management trends. That was the easy part. The hard part was inspiring individuals on each functional team to willingly grab the keys and drive toward the destination on the map.

Figure I.1 Leadership

Source: Matthew Trommer, Dreamstime.com.

A change management or leadership development roadmap outlines what we should do to get somewhere, but rarely does it address how we'll get there. Moreover, it does not usually articulate why we should go there in the first place. The real why is not about perceived problems we need to rectify, it's about defining purpose and passion, which far transcends a simple mission statement. The how is not really about the individual process steps we will take to get there, it's about how we'll convince our teams to go there enthusiastically. The what is not only about ...