Leadership

The Leadership Zone
By Arlen Burger

After working in the leadership field for almost 20 years, I have come to believe that leadership is a dynamic, transitory state rather than a stable, static characteristic of a person. We move into it and out of it on a day by day, minute by minute basis. This state of leadership is something I call the Leadership Zone.

Everyone has some capacity for the Leadership Zone. Sometimes we spend considerable time in the zone, other times we step briefly into it or we may be outside of it for months at a time. Certain people are habitually in the zone, others move into it only under specific conditions or circumstances. Even the best leaders are not always in the zone. It can be fragile, robust, or somewhere in between.

The Leadership Zone is not related to job grade or responsibility. I have worked with senior executives who seldom enter the zone. I have also worked with engineers who are in the zone on a consistent basis.

The Leadership Zone is different for everyone. It is very personal and is reflected in the choices you make and the principles you live by. It is affected by events and your reactions to them. The conditions that move you in or out of the zone are not the same as those for someone else. But one thing I have found to be consistently true is that stress and crisis diminish our capacity to be in the zone.

So, in challenging times we have to be particularly focused on staying in the zone. It is a fundamental discipline we must practice. Consider these questions that are relevant to the Leadership Zone.

* Can you describe or recognize what your leadership zone is like? * Are you aware of when you are in or out of the zone? * What triggers move you into or out of the zone? * Can you deliberately move yourself into the zone?

The Leadership Zone can be challenging to maintain. Given all of the stresses and distractions of modern day life, time in the zone can be fleeting for most people. It can be elusive. That is why it is so important to develop a real awareness of what it is like. Without awareness, it is much more difficult to manage and maintain the state. We can literally spend weeks and months outside of the zone without being aware of it and our capacity to lead becomes diminished. If you don't have a good feel for what it is like to be in the zone, it is hard to help yourself attain it.

When I first raise the concept of the Leadership Zone I am often asked the question, what is it and how will I know I am in it? While the Leadership Zone is slightly different for everyone, there seem to be three elements of the zone that people consistently experience.

* A sense of purpose and direction: Leaders often comment that they feel particularly focused when in the zone on something of importance or relevance. They are decisive and believe that what they are doing will really have impact or make a difference. Doubt and uncertainty seem to slip away. They feel tenacious and are not easily turned aside. Obstacles are dealt with directly and quickly.

* An expanded sense of ownership: People experience a deeply felt sense of responsibility that extends beyond their nominal responsibilities. They proactively take on responsibility, not for ego reasons, but because it needs to get done.

* Connection to others and something larger than oneself: People in the Leadership Zone do not feel alone; instead they feel strongly connected to others. This sense of connection can go beyond people they know to include others who they don't know. The connection can also be to a company or larger community. As part of the connection they try to get others involved and participating.

So, as you think about your own leadership zone, look for those moments or intervals of time when you experience purpose, ownership, and connection. Pay attention to other observations you have about your zone.

Dr. Arlen Burger is founder of Leadership Coaching, a Silicon Valley based consulting firm that has been in business for 19 years and specializes in organizational and leadership development. He specializes in working with leaders who have to manage complex, fast-paced and demanding businesses. Understanding that leaders have more demands on their time than they can typically address, he coaches leaders to maintain a rigorous focus on critical path variables that can mean the difference between business success and failure. His in-depth understanding of business and insight into leaders and organizations consistently yields dramatic and sustainable results.

Dr. Burger's client list includes companies ranging in size from small privately held firms to large Fortune 100 firms in the semi-conductor, venture capital, bio-medical, design tools, service, and eBusiness industries.
He can be reached at 408-483-1800 or through his website at http://leadershipcode.com

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