John Adair's Definition of Leadership

Adair believes that great leaders exemplify the qualities that they expect from others. This does not necessarily mean that they need to be "experts" in the subordinates role, rather that they should personify the qualities desired. While no two leaders will embody the same list of "leadership attributes", Adair highlights a core list: enthusiastic, energetic, calm in a crisis, warm and tough yet fair. Sounds like Sir Winston! For Adair, leadership is a privilege - a leader serves his followers.

Task, Team, Individual

This triumvirate runs through Adair's work. That is; to be a successful leader, one has to attend to the task at hand, the needs of the team and the needs of each individual. He illustrates these 3 elements of leadership via a Venn-diagram with each element intersecting and hence affecting each other. If something significant happens in one of the 3 elements it will have consequences in the other 2.

Situational Leadership

There is no one correct style of leadership - it depends on the situation. (There is no doubt that Churchill would not be so famous nor his leadership regarded with such reverence had he been Prime Minister of Mexico in peace time!). When setting the agenda for the task and team such skills such as goal setting, planning, communicating and evaluating may be used: the correct leadership style will depend on the leader themself, the time available, the knowledge and experience of the team, the culture and the priorities. Adair suggests leadership with consistency of character and flexibility of method / style.

Leadership or Management

For Adair, there is a clear contrast between leadership and management. In industry, of course they should work together, but they are not the same. In Adair's eyes, leadership is about giving direction, developing teams and inspiring others by your words and deeds. You can be "appointed" a manager, leadership in contrast is earned in the eyes of your followers. Leadership and change go together - management is about administering efficient resources typically in a relatively stable environment.

High Performing Teams

Every good leader has a product - A High Performing Team. This is characterised by: clear realistic goals, shared sense of purpose, openness, progress reviews, building on the lessons of their experience and using resources efficiently. Adair suggests that 50% 0f the success rests with the team's leadership.Build that teamwork by getting out their amongst your team, only accept the best (especially from yourself), delegate much and often and listen. Be part of them: eat the same food, wear the same clothes, share the same good times and hardships - not for Adair the privileges of rank such as the keys to the directors lavatory! Care for your team. Show humility, respect and trust your subordinates for they shall pay you back many fold.

Strategy

Critical strategic questions for the leader:

Why are we in business?

Where have we come from?

Where are we now?

Where do we want to get to?

How are we going to get there?

The outcome of strategic thinking should be a unifying theme that ties all actions together - and action is a vital leadership requirement for Adair (like all our gurus and Churchill). Leadership is about converting vision into action. The best way to win the follower's commitment is to involve them in the decisions. Remember that people prefer to be led rather than driven!

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