Robert Kaplan: What Does a Leader Do? November 16, 2012

Favorite:

Robert S. Kaplan
Professor, Harvard Business School

What Does a Leader Do?
-Leadership is about what you do as a leader. And a lot of the things that leaders do are very difficult and they're more difficult the more talented and naturally gifted you are.

The Pitfalls of Being Gifted
-Unwillingness to learn
-Isolation

Avoid the Pitfalls of Being Gifted:
-Practice openness
-Seek advice
-Be curious
-Admit your mistakes

Skillful Leaders Ask Strategic Key Questions:

Key Question #1: What is the vision?
Vision is: Hows do you add value to others? Based on what clear, distinctive competence?
Note: Vision is the prism through which you must judge everything else you do.
Clearly Articulate Your Vision:
-Write it down.
-Over-communicate it.

Key Question #2: What are my priorities?
-Develop your priorities as a function of your vision.
-Identify a maximum of 3-5.
-Over-communicate it to your people.

Key Question #3: How do I allocate my time?
-Match your time to your priorities.
-Allocate at least 70%.