In Star Trek and Star Wars they have artificial gravity. In Babylon 5 they had technology that replicated the gravitational properties of Earth. What really keeps the crews of Sci-Fi shows grounded? Leadership.
In Star Trek Voyager, Captain Janeway destroyed the only means of getting her crew back home so that it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands and be used as a weapon. While some of the crew disliked her for that decision, over time they understood that it was necessary. Over time they all happily followed her and the decisions that she made.
Leadership is like a gravitational force that attracts people to follow you along your path. It provides clarity on why they should follow you and paints a vision of how their life will be better as a result of that. The gravitational force of leadership removes any doubt they may have about following you. The gravitational force of leadership keeps employees focused and stable. The right leadership style at the right time helps everyone keep their feet on the ground and prevents them from floating up into the atmosphere. When the leader is calm and collected so shall they be. It is OK to have fear but in times of crisis you cannot show it. You have to project certainty in the face of adversity.
Everyone encounters the attractive force of leadership gravity whether it is good, bad or indifferent. Make sure the gravitational force you exert is a positive one. Employees become grounded by your leadership gravity when you help them make sense of the world around them. The gravitational force of leadership provides the why’s of what they are doing and it gives them a sense of purpose and value. Your leadership style should provide a win-win relationship.
The gravity of your leadership needs to be present, strong and consistent. It needs to keep employees grounded and act as a force that draws them along your chosen journey. The gravity of leadership is validated by achieving the expected outcomes for all involved. We know gravity is what keeps us on the ground but in leadership employees may never really figure out the attractive force that draws them to you. The more mass your leadership style has the stronger the force of leadership gravity you will exert.
Last updated on March 6th, 2018 at 10:08 am
