It sounds like a contradiction but it really just means take what the leader says and apply the underlying values and principles to the circumstances and situation you and your team find your self in. But do it with enthusiasm and conviction even if you don’t feel it.
Management is different to leadership but managers are increasingly expected to be more than passive followers. Modern leaders do it differently and that has implications for the role of managers.
The modern leader models the behaviour their managers are expected to follow - they expect managers to be more human, develop trust not only in them but in the leadership, take an interest in individual team members life out side work ( with out being intrusive) listen more, be receptive to challenges, and encourage not close down debate.
Following from the front is not parroting what the leader says but being able to take the underlying values and principles and apply them to the circumstances and situation you and your team find your self in. Ask your self what would the boss do and do it.
This type of manager owns decisions made by the leadership rather that trying to put distance between themselves and the leadership. They don’t say ,” the leadership has decided “ they say “we have decided”. And they never say, “ don’t blame me I’m just the messenger.”
When it comes to Equality ,Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) following from the front means when it comes to recruitment and service delivery championing the policy rather than reluctantly following it. It means being willing to support team members and colleagues who feel they have experienced or witnessed discrimination and not leaving it to HR.
The leader states the organisation will take employees health and well-being seriously. Following from the front means taking the initiative and creating a positive work environment, ensuring expectations are realistic and staff have manageable workloads.
Following from the front means making a reality of leaders commitment to talent management and retention, this involves enthusiastically rather than reluctantly supporting secondments and realising team members to join corporate working groups. It means being willing to be a mentor but most of all it means following Richard Brandon’s advice to, “ Train people well enough so they can leave ,treat them well enough so they don’t want to .”
Blair McPherson former director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
