How do you lead across, in a system designed to breed competition? The military promotion system is an up or out system.

Lead Across

All officers compete for a limited number of slots; therefore, you are always competing with your peers. So why would you help someone who is your direct competition?

I asked myself that question many times during the early years of my career. I did not receive an answer to my question, until I went to a three-month course on how to be an effective staff officer. More on this later…

This post is the fifth in a series about leadership based on John Maxwell’s book The 360 Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization. In this post, we will discuss the principles 360° Leaders Practice to Lead-Across.

[shareable cite=”Kim D. Moore”]While relational chemistry is important when leading up, it is critical to build relationships to lead-across.”[/shareable]

Creating opportunities to help your peers be successful gain the mid-level leader influence and credibility. John Maxwell’s seven principles you can practice to lead across are:

#1: Understand, Practice, and Complete the Leadership Loop
#2: Put Completing Fellow Leaders Ahead of Competing with Them
#3: Be a Friend
#4: Avoid Office Politics
#5: Expand Your Circle of Acquaintances
#6: Let the Best Idea Win
#7: Don’t Pretend You’re Perfect

Great leaders don’t use people so that they can win. They lead people so that they all can win together” (p. 167).

[callout]360° Leaders spend their time completing their peers instead of competing with them.[/callout]

While competition is a natural desire, winning at all costs will cost the mid-level leader when it come to their peers. The purpose of the 360° Leader is to add value to the organization through a collaborative spirit. In addition, 360° Leaders avoid office politics, stay away from petty arguments, ask for advice, and never let personality overshadow purpose.

Follow me. I’ll walk with you”
– John C. Maxwell

This is the motto of the 360° Leader who can lead-across the organization.

The next post will examine the Principles 360-Degree Leaders Practice to Lead Down. Until then, spend some time this week practicing one principle to lead across.

So why would I help my competition? Because helping others expands my influence, which makes me a better leader.

Your friend,
Kim


 

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Dr. Kim Moore

About the author

I'm Kim, your Educational Leadership Guide. I equip educational leaders with research-based and experientially learned educational leadership principles and best practices to promote student success.


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