真正的領袖特質

擁有堅強的心志、毅力和動機的領導者通常會讓「夢想和異象」實現。但是實現了夢想和異象之後，要如何讓這個企業繼續下去就有賴他們的領袖特質了。

吉姆．柯林斯在他的書「從A到A+」(Good to Great)裡描述了最好的領袖會希望看到他們的公司在下一個世代更加地出色，即使大部分的不知道創始人是誰也無所謂。

柯林斯也形容了「不太優」的領袖為:「只關心自己的名聲和自己的利益的領袖，常常讓公司在下一個世代失敗。」總而言之，就是個人的利益大於公司，在他離開了之後公司便瓦解了。

以下有兩個很有名的例子：第一個是：發明劃時代科技蘋果公司的創辦人史提夫‧賈伯斯(~2011,10)。賈伯斯的夢想和創意是要將蘋果公司建立成當代最有創新能力的公司。賈伯斯曾在八零年代後期離開蘋果公司，公司因此大大地停頓了一段時間，直到賈伯斯再次回到公司。

2011年賈伯斯過世後，有一些專家質疑蘋果公司是否還能維持賈伯斯在世時的盛況？蘋果公司是否能在一下個世代更加的成功？

這不是在否定賈伯斯的成就，而是說明真正的領袖影響力應該是能讓企業長存的。

另一個例子則是創辦「今日美國」(USA TODAY)的艾爾．紐哈斯(Al Neuharth)。1982年艾爾有遠見的想法孕育出「今日美國」-美國第一份全國性的報紙。時間證明這是有市場的，而且他使用衛星傳送，讓報紙的出版從東岸延伸到西岸。而當艾爾八十九歲去世前幾個月，他的典範已經被建立了。即使沒有艾爾每天親臨「今日美國」，它仍然是「下一個世代最成功」的媒體和通訊機構。

聖經裡提供了幾個關於「下一個世代」的看法。摩西將杖交給約書亞、以利亞將他的袍子傳給以利沙。最偉大的例子就是耶穌，他將使命傳承給一群門徒。而在今天已經有無數的人成為耶穌忠誠的跟隨者了。

箴言29章18節，提到：「沒有異象（或譯：默示），民就放肆；惟遵守律法的，便為有福。」耶穌給他的跟隨者以下的異象：「所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗（或譯：給他們施洗，歸於父、子、聖靈的名）。凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」(馬太福音28章19-20節) 很明顯地，他們對自己的呼召都很清楚，因此他們成功地將福音傳承了無數的世代。

在你的職場，領袖是否擁有可以傳給下一代的典範和異象呢？

勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他也是一個有40年經驗的退休新聞工作者。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）。他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）。要了解更多資訊, 可上網www.leaderslegacy.com 或上他的部落格www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com以及www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com 。

Strong-minded, determined and driven leaders often can “make things happen,” willing their visions and dreams into reality. But a better measure of leadership manifests itself after they leave. How well they have led those under their charge is revealed by what remains.

In his excellent book, Good to Great, Jim Collins states the best leaders “want to see their companies even more successful in the next generation, comfortable with the idea that most people won”t even know that the roots of that success trace back to their efforts.”

Collins also described “not-as-great” leaders. He said, “…concerned about their own reputation for personal greatness, (they) often failed to set the company up for success in the next generation. After all, what better testament to your own personal greatness than that the place falls apart after you leave?”

It is interesting to consider how the departure of two iconic business leaders affected cutting-edge enterprises they founded. Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, Inc., died in October 2011. His vision, creativity and personal magnetism built Apple into the most innovative company of its time. After Jobs and Apple parted ways in the late “80s, the business stumbled mightily until he returned years later.

Since his death, Apple again has struggled somewhat, and some experts wonder whether it will ever regain the stature it enjoyed under Jobs. Will it still become “more successful in the next generation”?
This is not to diminish Jobs” accomplishments, but not all leaders have the same long-range impact.

In 1982, Al Neuharth”s visionary thinking spawned USA Today, the country”s first national newspaper. Time confirmed there was a ready market for it, and he capitalized on emerging technology to facilitate publication of the newspaper from coast to coast. When Neuharth died several months ago, at the age of 89, his legacy was set. After his daily involvement had ended, USA Today became entrenched as a media and communications institution, fulfilling the “more successful in the next generation” description.

The Bible gives numerous examples of “next generation” thinking. Moses passed the baton to Joshua, and Elijah literally passes his mantle to Elisha. The greatest example is Jesus Christ, who entrusted His mission to a small band of disciples. Today, countless millions have become faithful followers of Jesus.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Jesus gave His followers a simple vision: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Clearly they were faithful to their calling, their mission”s success now extending through countless generations.

In your workplace, are leaders casting and modeling vision to be embraced by generations to come?

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.