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Is there a 'right' way to lead? Part 1

October 5, 2011 by Don Fox — CEO, Firehouse of America

Over the course of my 37-year career in the restaurant industry, I have had the privilege of serving in leadership positions at all organizational levels from restaurant assistant manager to CEO. This is Part I of a blog that will delve into my personal thoughts on Leadership, and how it can help shape our industry.

We live in a hierarchal world, where the communal efforts of mankind are alternatively directed, influenced, managed, inspired, motivated, or dictated by leaders. From the earliest days of history, those who assumed or were handed the reins of leadership have been the people most responsible for the course of human events. This will remain the way of the world for as long as mankind exists.

You see the effects of leadership every day of your life. Just look at the world around you. At any given point in time, leadership...or more often, the effect of leadership... is on display. Great leadership and the results it produces may inspire you on many levels. The ill effects of ineffective leadership may frustrate you. But make no mistake about it; leaders impact your life at virtually every turn.

Given the critical role that leadership plays at all levels across the globe, in all facets of life...in politics, government, commerce, religion, the armed forces of every nation on Earth (not to mention the restaurant industry)...one would think that, after thousands of years of human endeavor, there would be a science to it; an empirical method for leading people, individually and collectively, to their highest level of performance. But that is far from the case. An array of books has been scribed about leadership, written by people from all walks of life. Politicians, diplomats, sports figures, military professionals, academics, psychologists, CEOs...the list goes on and on. And while there may be some threads of thought and philosophy that seem more prevalent than others, history is replete with examples of a wide range of leadership styles that have produced results (be they famous or infamous).

Effective leadership is, in so many ways, situational. If you put your mind to it, I have no doubt that you could produce examples validating the virtues of many different styles of leadership. Even the most dictatorial, dispassionate leaders can be effective at producing the desired results. It could also be said that there are as many leadership styles as there are leaders. Each leader, as an individual, brings his or her own nuances and unique personal style to the table. And it is not at all uncommon for a leader to modify that style based upon the uniqueness of the people he is leading.

So know this: No matter what you read, hear, or even experience first-hand in your life, there is no one path to great leadership. You may draw inspiration from leaders you have respected, followed, or studied. You may even seek to emulate them. But each and every leader, in some form or fashion, blazes his own trail. In the end, your leadership style will be uniquely yours.

About Don Fox

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