The Language of Leaders, 2nd Edition

02

Leadership transformed – life in the fishbowl

In some ways, the modern world of commerce is a little like a battlefield, but this is a misleading analogy. Yes, often employees (the troops) have to operate in difficult, fast-changing circumstances where they are cut off from their commanders. And yes, they absolutely have to know what the organization’s mission is, and deliver their services and products in the right way, and within the operating envelope given to them by their leaders.

But their lives do not depend on them going that extra mile; employees retain a level of effort and commitment which they give at their own discretion, only if they are inspired to do so. That discretionary effort, however, can be the difference between an ...