Ask Dr. Polk

What Leadership Means

Q- What does leadership mean to you?

Question from Mary Jo, Michigan, USA

 A- The first and last job of a leader is to serve the needs of those being led. It is about managing the values of an organization and pointing to the positive outcomes that we are trying to achieve.

 Leadership is about commitment, responsibility and helping those that follow to understand the importance of making the right choices. Leading is not always about making clear-cut decisions about present and future, and it often isn’t about the “right” decision, as in many instances there might not be a clear-cut right choice; leading often comes down to making the “most right decision for the circumstances."

Great leaders, however, understand and must make certain that those who follow are able to experience the transparency that gives cause to comprehend and appreciate the decisions one makes.

 Leadership means many things to different people. One thing is certain, however, you can’t lead unless others are willing to follow. Following and leading go hand in hand.

Leadership in Higher Education

Q - In what ways can institutions of higher education foster a leadership ethic with incoming students?

Question from Jennifer, Michigan, USA

A-In the business of higher education, most of us try to avoid moralizing to our students; you should do this or do that has become very difficult to put into the leadership play book for students to study and consider. However, teaching students to lead to achieve good and allowing ethics and morals to enter the curriculum in a manner that does not challenge faith and religion might be a solution.

One of the points that we try to expose students to in MSU’s School of Leadership is that leadership aimed at positive outcomes is good and desirable. Helping students to understand that justice, fair play, and equity are honorable goals.

The bottom line for all of us, however, is to lead by example and make certain that what we teach is reflected in the organizations that we lead. Using an old proverb to amplify the difficulty of infusing the curriculum with the importance of leadership remember that “you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink." Students can be exposed to the study of leadership but it is up to them to capture its importance in their own lives.

Peer Pressure

Q-I’ve read a lot over the years about peer pressure, herd mentalities and tacit approval. The whole idea that people are afraid to break from the pack and express a differing opinion. I believe to be a successful leader, you have to do this every once in awhile. Question #1 – would you agree? And Question #2 – any words of reassurance for people struggling with this?

Questions from Sharlyn, South Florida, USA

A-Yes, I would agree that breaking from the pack is something that needs to be done once in a while. In fact, doing just that might be a part of our leadership strategy that keeps us from getting boring and complacent. In looking realistically at ourselves, it is important that we not only see ourselves as human but also as a commodity. Yes—a commodity that must often be treated just as any product that is being sold. Commodities that stay visible and viable at the marketplace are often positioned to be different. Budweiser Beer is a good case in point. Marketing strategists at this company are constantly looking for ways to keep Bud out front, and when necessary, it breaks from the pack in how it presents itself. Breaking from the pack is often a “strategy on the run” technique, but it can and does work. At the end of the day, we want to be successful leaders and we want it to be fun. Leader of the Pack is fun, but breaking away and being an individual can be fun as well.

Most Valuable Leadership Skill

Welcome to Ask Dr. Polk, the new blog from Mountain State University's President. This blog will feature answers to your most pressing leadership questions. We hope you'll submit a question and subscribe so you don't miss a single post on this exciting new blog.

Q-What is the single most valuable leadership skill that must be understood by all leaders?

Question from Mike, West Coast USA

A-I’ve suggested that possibly the most important and least recognized characteristic of a good leader is being able to listen. When leading we spend most of our time not trying to understand what is being said, but figuring out what we are going to say next. Listening is a skill and an art. Remember that words do not always convey a true story or give you the entire picture. Much of what we think is being said really isn’t and the rest of the story is silent. There are all sorts of clues as to what is being said to us; look for the visual and auditory clues and not just the words that are being spoken. Listening for the “whole story” gives us the opportunity to make judgments as to what to do next. Listening cannot be underrated as a skill for successful leaders.