Leadership and image - which is more important?

He goes cycling at lunch time, leaves work early (well apparently 7.30 pm is early for Americans) and takes a "bottom up" approach to leadership.  Who is he?  James L . Jones, President Obama's national security advisor. 

When asked by reporters about other White House officials who work deep into the night, he responded "Congratulations.  To me that means you're not organized".

I can relate to the sniping by other White House staff about Jones' work hours.  As a newly appointed senior manager in a large regional bank some years back, I used to leave no later than 6.pm.  I heard from trusted colleagues that people were saying "that he's not working hard enough", or "he does not seem to be pulling his weight".  However I started work at 7am whereas others started around 9am or even later.

The bank had a culture of working late into the night.  In fact there's a story (true) about a young man who was regularly seen by the CEO as one of the last to leave - this man was made PA to the CEO and eventually became CEO!  It seems that sometimes, it's not what you achieve that's important, but how you're seen. 

Jones displays a different style of leadership, as he calls it a "bottom up" approach.  He takes a back seat, letting others take the limelight.  He encourages his people to make decisions.  He delegates to key aides.  He regularly asks for other's opinions before giving his own.  He's even sent staff members to the Oval Office on his behalf for meetings with the President.  As Jones commented, "You can be a leader that takes charge of every meeting and takes charge of every issue and rides it to conclusion and play a very dominant role.  For me that has the effect of muting voices."

What a refreshing change from many of the so called leaders we often see in politics, administration and even corporate life.  To me, this is real leadership.

But, and there has to be a "but", is Jones going to last the distance?  My observations are that in the culture within which he is working, the "top down" leadership style of being decisive (even though the decision may turn out to be wrong) is greatly valued.  People expect their leaders to be seen.  They expect them to make strong statements.  They may even expect them to work late into the night!

After all, I'm sure that's the style that got Bush elected for his second term.  He was "seen" to be doing things.

Will Jones' peers, his boss, the press (apparently he shuns the press and has had only one press conference since taking office) and the general public see the virtue of his style?  Or will the sniping continue until it becomes back stabbing and fatal?

A recent story in the press (International Herald Tribune, Friday May 8) titled "National security adviser sticks to the discreeet approach" raises an interesting question - Why the need for an article on his style?  Whilst the article was quite balanced in its reporting, why report extensively on his style rather than the results he is achieving? 

Is he achieving results?  So far so good.  For example, his "behind the scenes processes" apparently set up the recent very favourable NATO deal for Obama with Turkey and he has been instrumental in improved South American - US relationships.

Jones comes out of the army.  He was a four-star general and supreme commander of NATO.  Perhaps the army has a somewhat different culture where results and not image, matter.  In the political arena into which Jones has been thrust, unfortunately image is important. 

Does he need someone to do his PR?  I'd hate to see an apparently good leader fail for the lack of so-called "image".

Tough times call for tough leadership

My above article, originally posted in Management-Issues.com, has just received a mention in the world-wide communications bulletin of the IABC (International Association of Business Communicators).  You can see the article at http://www.nationallearning.com.au/leadership/tough-times-call-for-tough-leadership.html

Book Review

A great new book on decision making "Think Again:  Why Good Leaders Make Bad Decisions and How to Keep It Happening to You" has just been reviewed.  Worth a look.

Cheers

Bob