The Leadership Contract, 2nd Edition

Conclusion

I began this book with a simple question: What does it mean to be a leader?

As I explained, it's a question that I believe every single one of us in a leadership role needs to answer. The reason is that the world in which we lead is more dynamic and complex. The models of leadership of a generation ago are insufficient in today's and tomorrow's world.

The expectations of leadership are greater today. The pressure and scrutiny that leaders face can be intense. So we need leadership in all organizations to be as strong as it can possibly be.

Yet every day we see signs that leadership is not strong. It many cases it is outright disappointing and at times even disgraceful. This erodes the trust that people have in leaders throughout society and in the business world. It erodes the engagement of employees. At the root of this problem is a leadership accountability gap.

Truly accountable leadership is the only way to build an organization that can not only survive in our increasingly complicated world but also succeed and grow.

The solution begins by understanding that when you take on a leadership role, you are being held to a higher standard of behavior. Many leaders seem to not be fully aware of this. This is why the idea of a leadership contract is so important today. You need to understand that when you take on a leadership role, you are signing up for something important. You just can't take on a role for the bigger title, the perks, or the increased compensation. ...