| After working in the leadership field for almost 20 | | | | of modern day life, time in the zone can be |
| years, I have come to believe that leadership is a | | | | fleeting for most people. It can be elusive. That is |
| dynamic, transitory state rather than a stable, | | | | why it is so important to develop a real |
| static characteristic of a person. We move into it | | | | awareness of what it is like. Without awareness, it |
| and out of it on a day by day, minute by minute | | | | is much more difficult to manage and maintain the |
| basis. This state of leadership is something I call | | | | state. We can literally spend weeks and months |
| the Leadership Zone. | | | | outside of the zone without being aware of it and |
| Everyone has some capacity for the Leadership | | | | our capacity to lead becomes diminished. If you |
| Zone. Sometimes we spend considerable time in | | | | don't have a good feel for what it is like to be in |
| the zone, other times we step briefly into it or | | | | the zone, it is hard to help yourself attain it. |
| we may be outside of it for months at a time. | | | | When I first raise the concept of the Leadership |
| Certain people are habitually in the zone, others | | | | Zone I am often asked the question, what is it |
| move into it only under specific conditions or | | | | and how will I know I am in it? While the |
| circumstances. Even the best leaders are not | | | | Leadership Zone is slightly different for everyone, |
| always in the zone. It can be fragile, robust, or | | | | there seem to be three elements of the zone |
| somewhere in between. | | | | that people consistently experience. |
| The Leadership Zone is not related to job grade | | | | * A sense of purpose and direction: Leaders often |
| or responsibility. I have worked with senior | | | | comment that they feel particularly focused when |
| executives who seldom enter the zone. I have | | | | in the zone on something of importance or |
| also worked with engineers who are in the zone | | | | relevance. They are decisive and believe that |
| on a consistent basis. | | | | what they are doing will really have impact or |
| The Leadership Zone is different for everyone. It | | | | make a difference. Doubt and uncertainty seem |
| is very personal and is reflected in the choices | | | | to slip away. They feel tenacious and are not |
| you make and the principles you live by. It is | | | | easily turned aside. Obstacles are dealt with |
| affected by events and your reactions to them. | | | | directly and quickly. |
| The conditions that move you in or out of the | | | | * An expanded sense of ownership: People |
| zone are not the same as those for someone | | | | experience a deeply felt sense of responsibility |
| else. But one thing I have found to be consistently | | | | that extends beyond their nominal responsibilities. |
| true is that stress and crisis diminish our capacity | | | | They proactively take on responsibility, not for |
| to be in the zone. | | | | ego reasons, but because it needs to get done. |
| So, in challenging times we have to be particularly | | | | * Connection to others and something larger than |
| focused on staying in the zone. It is a | | | | oneself: People in the Leadership Zone do not feel |
| fundamental discipline we must practice. Consider | | | | alone; instead they feel strongly connected to |
| these questions that are relevant to the | | | | others. This sense of connection can go beyond |
| Leadership Zone. | | | | people they know to include others who they |
| * Can you describe or recognize what your | | | | don't know. The connection can also be to a |
| leadership zone is like? | | | | company or larger community. As part of the |
| * Are you aware of when you are in or out of | | | | connection they try to get others involved and |
| the zone? | | | | participating. |
| * What triggers move you into or out of the | | | | So, as you think about your own leadership zone, |
| zone? | | | | look for those moments or intervals of time |
| * Can you deliberately move yourself into the | | | | when you experience purpose, ownership, and |
| zone? | | | | connection. Pay attention to other observations |
| The Leadership Zone can be challenging to | | | | you have about your zone. |
| maintain. Given all of the stresses and distractions | | | | |