Third Classic Tenet of Leadership

Leaders manage a rational system of management that takes into account structures, routine, outcomes, personnel and action.

So far my picture of a leader is someone who has the knowledge needed to lead someone else toward a specific goal and the capability of imparting knowledge to them. This next tenet speaks to how the leader approaches the goal. Managing a rational system of management means the leader would first need to understand what is rational and what is not. Possessing the intelligence necessary to understand the difference between a reasonable system of management and a non-rational system suggests the need for experience and a complete understanding of the situation.

A good leader needs to be able to look at a project in the big picture, taking in to account the possible outcomes and future impacts of their actions. They must be able to understand the social structure they are working in and the parameters of the routine or course of procedure. The structures and routines may be the more static of the considerations, while the understanding of the personnel tends to be more shifting and changing. A good leader should be able to understand the people they are leading, looking at their characteristics, levels of comprehension, learning styles and motivations. While leading, these qualities can change and a good leader must be able to recognize and adapt to the changes within individuals.

All these requirements together paint a picture of a leader that can multi-task, one that can concentrate on the goals yet simultaneously step back to see the whole picture and one that can adjust to changing situations. In essence, a good leader would be learning to lead while leading to learn.