This is a well-known and insightful quote often attributed to John C. Maxwell, a renowned leadership expert and author.
It concisely captures three essential dimensions of effective leadership:
- “Knows the way”: Implies vision, foresight, understanding of the path ahead, strategic thinking, and having a clear direction. A leader isn’t just wandering aimlessly; they have a purpose and a plan.
- “Goes the way”: Highlights the importance of leading by example, demonstrating commitment, integrity, and courage. A true leader doesn’t just delegate or instruct from afar; they are actively involved in the journey, facing challenges alongside their team.
- “Shows the way”: Emphasizes the leader’s role as a guide, mentor, and communicator. They inspire, motivate, empower, and equip others to follow the path, providing clarity, support, and direction.
In essence, the quote suggests that leadership isn’t just about authority or position, but about active participation, personal integrity, and the ability to inspire and enable others to achieve a shared vision.
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way & shows the way,” isn’t just a catchy phrase; it encapsulates the very essence of effective, influential, and ultimately, winning leadership. Leaders must follow this approach because it builds trust, inspires action, and cultivates a culture of excellence.
Why Leaders Must Follow This Approach: The Pillars of Influence and Winning
This approach is crucial because it addresses the fundamental needs of followers and the dynamics of a successful team or organization.
- 1. Trust and Credibility (The Foundation):
- Knowing the Way: Demonstrates competence and foresight. People trust a leader who has a clear vision and understands the challenges and opportunities ahead. Without this, a leader is perceived as haphazard or clueless, eroding confidence.
- Going the Way: Builds respect and authenticity. When a leader “walks the talk,” they prove their commitment and willingness to face the same challenges as their team. This eliminates hypocrisy and fosters a deep sense of trust. It shows they are not just giving orders from an ivory tower but are truly invested.
- Showing the Way: Establishes reliability and support. By actively guiding and teaching, leaders demonstrate care for their team’s growth and success. This makes followers feel valued and supported, further solidifying trust.
- 2. Inspiration and Motivation (The Catalyst):
- Knowing the Way: Provides a compelling vision. A clear and inspiring vision gives people a reason to strive. It answers the “why” and ignites purpose.
- Going the Way: Ignites passion and commitment. When team members see their leader putting in the effort, overcoming obstacles, and exhibiting a positive attitude, it serves as a powerful motivator. Actions truly speak louder than words.
- Showing the Way: Empowers and enables. By sharing knowledge and skills, leaders equip their teams to succeed, boosting their confidence and encouraging them to take initiative. This creates a sense of shared ownership and collective drive.
- 3. Creating a Winning Attitude (The Outcome):
- Knowing the Way: Instills clarity and focus. A clear path reduces uncertainty and allows for focused effort, preventing wasted energy and fostering a goal-oriented mindset.
- Going the Way: Models resilience and perseverance. When a leader consistently demonstrates determination in the face of adversity, it teaches the team that challenges are opportunities for growth, not reasons to give up. This builds mental toughness.
- Showing the Way: Fosters collaboration and collective achievement. By actively guiding and developing others, the leader creates a supportive environment where individuals feel empowered to contribute their best, leading to synergistic results and a shared sense of accomplishment.
Creative Framework: The “3-W Impact Compass” for Winning Leadership
Let’s imagine a “3-W Impact Compass” as a framework to visualize and practice this leadership approach and cultivate a winning attitude.
The Compass Elements:
- Central North Star: The “Winning Attitude” Core
- Represents the ultimate desired outcome: a team consistently demonstrating resilience, proactivity, optimism, and a drive for excellence.
- Three Cardinal Points: The “Know, Go, Show” Quadrants
- Each quadrant represents one of the three “W”s, with specific practices and internal states.
- Interconnecting Lines: The “Influence Channels”
- These lines illustrate how each “W” flows into and amplifies the others, creating a cohesive leadership presence and maximum influence.
The “3-W Impact Compass” Framework & Practice:
Imagine your leadership journey as navigating this compass.
1. “KNOW THE WAY” – The Visionary Quadrant (Mindset & Strategy)
- Internal State: Clarity, Foresight, Purpose.
- Practices:
- Deep Dive & Data Analytics: Regularly research market trends, competitor strategies, and internal performance data. What’s the landscape? Where are the opportunities and threats?
- Vision Crafting Workshops: Engage in solitary reflection and collaborative sessions to articulate a compelling, measurable, and inspiring vision for the future. Use storytelling to make it tangible.
- Scenario Planning: Proactively identify potential obstacles and develop contingency plans. “If X happens, we will do Y.” This builds confidence and minimizes surprises.
- Learning Agility: Continuously learn and adapt. Attend workshops, read industry publications, seek out mentors. The “way” is dynamic, so your knowledge must be too.
- Influence & Winning Edge: Instills confidence, provides direction, fosters strategic thinking, and minimizes reactive panic. Team members see a leader who is prepared and has a clear destination.
2. “GO THE WAY” – The Exemplar Quadrant (Action & Integrity)
- Internal State: Commitment, Resilience, Authenticity.
- Practices:
- Lead from the Front: Actively participate in challenging tasks, especially during critical periods. Don’t just assign; contribute. (e.g., a sales leader joining cold calls, a project manager helping debug).
- Ownership & Accountability: Publicly take responsibility for successes and failures. Model learning from mistakes, not assigning blame. “We win together, we learn together.”
- Demonstrate Work Ethic & Values: Be the first to arrive, the last to leave (when necessary, not habitually for burnout), and consistently embody the values you preach (e.g., transparency, innovation, customer focus).
- Vulnerability & Empathy: Share your struggles and learnings. Show that you’re human. Actively listen to team members’ challenges and provide genuine support.
- Influence & Winning Edge: Builds deep trust and respect, fosters a strong work ethic, encourages accountability throughout the team, and creates a culture of learning and continuous improvement. When the leader “goes,” the team follows with enthusiasm.
3. “SHOW THE WAY” – The Empowerer Quadrant (Guidance & Development)
- Internal State: Empowerment, Mentorship, Communication.
- Practices:
- Clear Communication Cascades: Articulate the vision, strategy, and individual roles frequently and clearly. Use multiple channels (meetings, written updates, one-on-ones).
- Coaching & Mentoring Programs: Dedicate time to developing individual team members. Provide constructive feedback, identify growth opportunities, and offer guidance.
- Delegation with Support: Delegate meaningful tasks, not just busywork. Provide resources and guidance, but allow for autonomy and independent problem-solving.
- Celebrate Small Wins & Efforts: Acknowledge progress, not just end results. Publicly recognize individual and team efforts to reinforce positive behaviors and maintain momentum.
- “What If” Scenarios & Problem-Solving: Guide the team through challenges by asking insightful questions rather than just providing answers, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Influence & Winning Edge: Develops future leaders, fosters a sense of ownership and capability, creates a highly engaged and motivated workforce, and ensures sustained high performance. The team doesn’t just know what to do; they know how to do it, and they feel capable of winning.
By consciously navigating this “3-W Impact Compass,” a leader not only fulfills the tenets of Maxwell’s quote but also cultivates a powerful presence that inspires, empowers, and propels their team towards consistent victory. It’s a holistic approach where integrity, vision, and action converge to create an undeniable edge.
Leave a Reply