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Leaders, whether it be the CEO of the company or you, must anticipate forces that will cause changes, identify opportunities that will require changes, react to unforeseen events that make changes imperative, and work with others to overcome the predictable reactions to change, which almost always include some amount of resistance, often to a significant degree. As a leader, you sometimes need to be conservator of values and institutions that come under attack. Knowing when to change and when to preserve is vital leadership ability.
Leading change is a significant part of the policy process. It is not enough to identify policy issues, develop potential solutions, and allocate the necessary resources. In order to implement policy in organizations, communities and society as a whole, leaders must learn how to initiate and plan for change, how to communicate the need for change, how to make a change appealing to gain support from others, and to consolidate the results so that the changes endure and have intended impact. Leaders sometimes have to change themselves as they move along a path of professional growth and development.
Understanding how to change oneself and to assist others to change and develop in response to new challenges are also important leadership skills. Guardian Protection Services was founded in 1950, and is the world’s largest privately held security company. Guardian sells, installs and monitors residential and commercial security systems. Protection of the lives and property is our business. We’ve been doing it- and doing it well for over 50 years. There CEO, Russell Ceremonies, has his own interesting story as to how he became the owner/ president and at one-time became the Western Pennsylvania Entrepreneur of the Year.
Mr.. Ceremonies, used to work for their parent company Armstrong and he was an overachiever, and wanted to excel in all lines of the business. Mr.. Ceremonies, asked to become sales rep, the owner of Armstrong advised that Mr.. Ceremonies was not a leader, that he did not have the personality or the charisma to be put in charge of selling security equipment. So, he left the company and began his own career, now several years later he has accomplished more than he could have imagined. VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP: The Rushmore leaders served to realize the needs and wants of their followers.
As reviewed in the book, there were four great presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. All of which came from different social backgrounds, professional manners, educational upbringing, and personal interest and styles. But, after reading through the chapter you find even with their differences, they became remarkable leaders. Much like, Mr.. Ceremonies, not that he should be compared to some of the greatest presidents we have ever had, but he had to overcome objections, but like the presidents he was inspired to trust and hope in his followers.
He took a gamble leaving his company several years ago and starting his own business. But, had he not had the integrity to move forward, he would not be the success that he is today. The fact that he respects his followers and reflects on their needs and wants to continue thriving in the industry, Mr.. Ceremonies has become a well-rounded individual that realizes that he himself can not handle all of the tasks of operating a business. The values that he holds true are: trust, respect for others, and listening.
Much like the Rashness’s standard of excellence, the ability to lead change both morally and effectively. It is a level that is measured over time, which makes you a good leader. LEADING CHANGE EFFECTIVELY: Leadership effectiveness has little to do with matters of what to do or how to do it. As the book states, a good leader can start a process by adopting it, but is how they choose to proceed along the way that allows them to succeed. It was the fact they included their followers that allowed them to continue.
They recognized that they could not handle all tasks and needed the talents of others to compensate for whatever strengths they may have lacked. In comparison, Guardian Protection may be solely owned by one individual, but he realizes, that he alone could not be operating the business successfully. Like hose listed in the book, Ceremonies, had weaknesses, not that he did not attempt to fulfill all that he could, but he did not abandon his goal that he set forth to one day run a private security company. He just needed the strengths of others to complete the tasks, and he was not ashamed to ask.
He searched for qualified individuals that knew the specific job he was hiring them for, far more than he. Numbers and recognition awards alone represent that Guardian Protection is run by a leader who is there for others. The company has received the Medal of Honor, the Community Service Award, and has been recognized as the world’s arrest privately held security company. All of which did not occur because of one man alone, he just took the beginning steps to become the leader that he is today through the assistance of his followers.
Like, Frances Heisenberg, Ceremonies doesn’t use the word “l”, he makes things happen because of “we”. In the book, there are so many leaders, that Mr.. Ceremonies can be compared to, however in the end, it is his ability to reason and know that he alone can not make something work, that keeps Guardian Protection running as successfully as it has been over the last fifty years. Also stated in the book, and after reviewing information on Guardian, they had several similarities that were used to effectively lead change: o Required top lever management support. Change came about on the strengths and values of the company. o Involvement is a full company production just not top leaders. o Everything is planned in advance, and broken into smaller pieces. o Change is a process that is ongoing, always looking to succeed based on others. LEADERSHIP STYLES- Rushmore V. Realist The book gives you an overview of several past leaders, that have became Coo’s of their companies and/or managed huge corporations. Each leader recognized in the book, each had a unique style in how they managed the people surrounding them.
At one time, leadership was though to be about a certain type of person, whereas, leadership is a process that anyone can show given the right circumstances. It is the determined by how you manage people and make decisions. Rushmore vs.. Realist, who is the tougher leader, and where would you fall among the two definitions. Whether you are a Rushmore or a Realist, like the author of the book entailed through-out the chapters that we have read so far, leadership is extremely complex and challenging, and to guide effective hanged we the hearts and minds of our followers through inclusion and participation.
The key to the success of the Rushmore leadership philosophy is that while leaders must respects the rights of individuals to make the most of their lives, followers also have an obligation to gain self confidence and to make all they can of their lives. As for Realists, their basic philosophy is that you have to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Mostly characterized by taking firm, bold action: being strong, aggressive, and decisive in reaching a goal. Realists get followers to do what the leader has outlined. Ceremonies, is a Rushmore leader, there for the people, the followers.
He feels dictation would not of gotten him where he is today had he not allowed others in to help him build Guardian Protection Services. In conclusion, of this assignment, I’ve learned new ideas about leadership, strengthened some skills that I had, and possibly discovered my hidden potential for a strong role in leadership. The key to success from what I can see is recognizing the importance of questions of purpose and to understand leadership as a form of service to others is an important insight and a balance to one’s personal ambitions.