Leadership thinking is a matter of asking questions and presenting challenges that help someone discover the mental model that enables their “best leader” to emerge. As leadership guru Peter Drucker said, “Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action”.
Strategy & Business lists three mental shifts that aspiring leaders must make in order to develop a leader’s thinking capacity:
From linearity to complexity. Management systems and processes tend to be linear. They assume that similar inputs will result in similar outputs. In many situations, this holds true. Leadership, however, requires a more nuanced view of the world because it involves people: what motivates them, what their interests are, and how engaged they become.  Leaders need to think about connectivity, and the extent and robustness of those connections.
From “focus” as a noun to “focus” as a verb. There is always temptation to set static goals – annual growth rate, net profit, or customer acquisition costs – but once you accept that you are operating in a dynamic and adaptive environment, you begin to realize such goals have limitations. As a leader, you must continually recalibrate to ensure that you have established the right goals and that they not only include financial measures but also purpose and values. You need notions that enable others without controlling every action and decision. That’s leadership.
From they to you. Ask yourself: What are you doing to improve your leadership capacity and capability? What are you doing to push your boundaries and test your limitations? How are you getting ready for where you ultimately want to be beyond the next step on ladder? You need to take responsibility for understanding your strengths and weaknesses and discerning where and how you can make your most meaningful leadership contributions. Most important, you must take ownership of your own leadership development. With the mindset of a true leader, you can take the best of what your company offers – and then seek out more.

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Strategy Business