 AN
OMEGA LEADER FOR THE FUTURE
Step
into the Future | by Brenda Miller
At
a time when Americans recently chose a president and other
positions within our government, the question of leadership
has been scrutinized. Whether one is president of the
free world, a parent heading a family, an entrepreneur
leading a small business or a CEO of a major Fortune 500
company, all good leaders share similar qualities.
So, what comprises a great leader? Is it the characteristics
like Alexander The Great, a warrior and conqueror who
led a legion into war from the front lines and was willing
to lay down his life in the process, or is it a deep thinker
and feeler who believes that fighting is not an option
and the death of one is one too many?
The future lies in the hands of those who encompass both
traits, called the Omega leader. An Omega leader incorporates
both the Alpha style, based on the masculine, authoritarian
use of power, and the Beta style, based on the feminine,
cooperative use of power. Great leaders hold the balance
of both.
An Omega leadership style is not focused on winning at
all costs, nor is it a warm and fuzzy approach to making
everyone happy and feel good. The people that empower
this style will lead us into the 21st century with much
more than morality and integrity as their walking stick.
Core qualities of leadership
Many think they’re worthy of being good leaders,
but few are willing to take the responsibility or accountability
of what that entails, and, more importantly, put their
egos and self-concerns aside for the greater good. It’s
in the strength of self-mastery that a leader does difficult
things, pushing onward in times of defeat, of a cause,
something greater than himself or herself, a sense of
destiny.
A true leader is willing to change the hierarchical organizational
structure to more a relational one. Egos need to be put
aside; responsibilities are not placed into functions,
and people into rigid roles. Until and unless business
creates a cause bigger and more embracing than enrichment
of the shareholders, it will have few great leaders. We
are more likely to find these leaders in times of war,
spiritual enlightenment, societal crisis and within our
own neighborhoods.
Omega leaders’ core qualities include character,
vision, behavior and confidence and they are willing to
freely pass this knowledge on to train and motivate others
to one day take their place — knowing full well that
they will hold their position for a season and must one
day pass the torch to another. It’s in actions and
relational skills that true leadership is shown.
“Truly effective leaders in the years ahead will
have personas determined by strong values and belief in
the capacity of individuals to grow. They will have an
image of the society in which they would like their organizations
and themselves to live. They will be visionary, they will
believe strongly that they can and should be shaping the
future, and they will act on those beliefs through their
personal behavior.”
— Richard Beckhard
Confidence and character
A belief in oneself is the only thing that gives an individual
a healthy self-confidence to step into the unknown and
to persuade people to go with him or her, but this has
to be combined with healthy doubt, the humility to accept
that one can be wrong on occasion, that others also have
good ideas, and that listening is as important as talking.
A passion for the mission provides the energy and focus
that drives the leader and his followers and acts as an
example for others. The leader must have a love of people,
because in a community of many, those who find individuals
difficult and a taskmaster may be respected or feared,
but they will not be willingly followed.
Yet, this attribute, too, requires its opposite: a capacity
for aloneness. Because leaders have to be out front, it
is not always possible to share one’s worries with
others. Few will thank the leader when things go right,
but many will blame him if things go wrong. Great leaders
have to often walk alone. They may also have to live vicariously,
deriving their satisfaction from the successes of others
and giving others the recognition that they themselves
are often denied.
Vision and behavior
A charter of an Omega leader is one who is self-aware,
inquisitive and approachable, open-minded and capable,
and above all action-oriented. This leader leads from
within, leads with listening, leads with intuition, and
leads in service to a deeper vision. Combining vision
with imagination, he’s able to see the future through
a veil that is often foggy and distant to others. He inspires,
encourages, and develops common goals so everyone believes
and has a stake in the outcome.
In defining clear objectives, he has to seek consensus
and empower others, but be willing to reject the “we've
never done that before” response. Great leaders
can mobilize appropriate resources, seize opportunities,
create and shape change, not be swayed by difficult events
or people, and not stop or become paralyzed when defeated.
However, when one has done everything possible, it takes
great courage to walk away and let it go. Surrendering
often takes the greatest strength of all.
Living with these paradoxes requires greatness of character.
It also requires a belief in what one is doing. Money
and love of power alone will not be enough to provide
the motivation to live with these contradictions and to
keep them in balance. Great leaders, such as Rudy Giuliani,
mayor of New York during the 9-11 crisis, can be bred
from great causes. But leaders at their best also breed
great causes. Sadly, for want of a cause, we often create
a crisis, which is not the same.
Is an Omega leader born or made? Perhaps it is neither.
Such a leader evolves, with time and life experiences,
to encompass those characteristics, traits and values
that keeps mankind rising to a higher level of consciousness
in the new millennium, always aware that we control our
destiny.
Brenda Miller is a forecaster and whole-systems design
strategist. As a Certified Master Professional Futurist,
and Certified Trainer and Educator in Emotional Intelligence,
she specializes and helps people, businesses, and organizations
see, understand, and respond to change so they can creatively
design a brighter future. Ms. Miller consults in the areas
of futuring, strategic messaging, vision and mission design,
team building, and leadership coaching. She is president
and Chief Global Strategist of New Crotona, a Futures-based
consultancy. She is president of the Minnesota Futurists
Association and a Professional Member of the World Futurists
and the Association of Professional Futurists. For more
information, contact her at (651) 731-4037 or e-mail brendamiller@bigfoot.com
Copyright © 2004 Brenda Miller, all rights reserved.
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