New Habits of the Mind: The Ways of a Leader in Balance

Abstract

A leader is a brand and like a brand, leaders and their organizations are built from the inside out. When we say, “I like the way that person thinks,” we make a judgment about something broader than a style of leadership, more than a set of leadership characteristics and behaviors, and deeper than a way of leading. We judge the way a person thinks. This goes well beyond a style or approach; it’s more telling and more robust. It is about a leader’s way of seeing, thinking, and interpreting meaning for their organization—each at the foundation of what’s inside a leader. This leader embodies the brand promise and its values and, as such, sets the tone and direction for the organization.