You can practice breathtaking leadership using basic knowledge that’s carried out with honesty and humility.

Breathtaking Leadership. What comes to your mind when you hear that phrase? Is it a single act of bravery or heroism in the face of danger? Is it a person - a historical figure or someone you know personally? Do you think of a business leader who transformed an organization? If you think carefully about many of these people, breathtaking leadership is a basic foundation of knowledge that must be carried out honestly and with humility. Here are the actions you can take to practice breathtaking leadership.

First, realize and utilize the power of change. Change can be frightening, both for the leader who’s initiating it and those who will be affected by it. But think further than the initial, surface reaction to change. Change can serve first of all as an establishment of direction. One of the key actions a leader can take is to declare and define the future: what is it going to feel like when we’ve reached the ultimate goal? What is the impact on our organization, those we serve, and ourselves? But just in the very act of declaring the future you are making change - and as a leader you must do this. Change can also be a motivator. You’ve painted this picture of the future, now those who want to see it happen can come with you on the journey. The people who follow you will be motivated to continue, to learn from failure, and to persist in carrying out the vision you’ve established.

Let’s talk about establishing the vision, which goes hand-in-hand with the change a breathtaking leader will bring. Remember that by defining the future you’ve painted a picture. By firmly establishing a vision, you’re allowing people to see where they fit in. As the change filters down into the organization, every person involved will be able to see the big picture and hopefully make a link to what they do on a daily basis. Think of the inspiration they’ll have knowing that you had them in mind when you boldly established the future direction. As it becomes clear how the future will be executed, a breathtaking leader will simply get out of the way. It sounds harsh, but many top performing organizational leaders have said that the best way to make it happen is to declare the expected result and let the organization get to work.

The third action you can take as a breathtaking leader is to establish a culture of growth. Training is an important key to this culture. You must make it clear that everyone involved has a career path, not just in functional detail but in professional and personal growth as well. Part of the change you can make is to be sure that a training department is firmly established - and connected with the organization and its needs. Offer training in various dimensions, imparting broad industry knowledge, functional knowledge, and leadership. You’ve already established your vision, but part of the culture of growth is to create a written vision and values statement that means something to everyone in the organization. This allows every person to truly determine if their values fit those of the organization. You can nurture those who are a fit through training and continuous improvement - and assure them that their career with you is of the utmost importance.

A culture of continuous improvement can also come from the way you listen and act. Leadership does not emerge from knowing everything. On the other hand, leadership does emerge by sharing knowledge and wisdom in a way that keeps organization members motivated - and not feeling stupid. Listening to the organization is a great way to show leadership, but you must act on what you hear in the process. This theory was first exercised at GE and at countless organizations afterward with the “Work Out” session. In a Work Out session, employees from various groups, both within the same business unit and in cross- functions, gathered together to either solve problems or make suggestions about beneficial changes. At the end of the session, managers and executives came back to listen to what the group had to say. Not only did this create a culture of continuous improvement, but it also allowed leaders to learn - and to impart knowledge. On viable suggestions, groups were asked to determine action plans and leaders were asked to approve and sponsor. Breathtaking leadership doesn’t have to be this formal, but it has to set up a culture where leaders listen and take action.

From listening and taking action, in formal and non-formal situations, you can create an organization without boundaries. The history of society in general has set us up for the creation of silos and boundaries, and it spills over into business. Something like GE’s Work Out is a great way to start removing boundaries. But if you don’t want to go that route, look for the walls that exist within your organization - walls between functions, levels, and locations. Gently remove the hierarchy by installing managers as leaders and involving everyone in problem solving. Think about the fact that your organization will thank you for showing them how they all fit together, instead of simply passing a half-completed job to another area.

Finally, breathtaking leadership anticipates and tolerates failure. Not only must you as a leader admit when you’ve failed, you must also plan for the failure of your teams. They may not get it right on the first try, but your job as the leader is to make sure they learn from the mistakes and move forward. Your job is to tolerate failure by offering another shot. If the team fails a second time, move the function to another team, but don’t place blame. Score it as a team that’s suited for another job.

When you carry out these actions, you’re proving your skill as a leader and bringing the organization into a common fold. The next time you think of leadership, think of these actions - and breathtaking leadership