Know the Condition of Your Flock


The Shepherd

Know the condition of your flock

I just finished reading Larry Kreider’s most excellent book, 21 Tests of Effective Leadership. It really helped me re-focus on what makes a great leader and recommit myself to becoming the kind of leader I am called to be.

Larry had a bunch of great quotes on leadership, but one that stuck out with me was a quote from former Secretary of State Colin Powell in the chapter called “The Vision Test.” He said:

“… find ways to reach down and touch everyone in a unit. Make individuals feel important and part of something larger than themselves.”

This is a variation of the principle: Know the condition of your flock. An effective leader knows the importance of trust-based relationships within the organization. If you are a supervisor, you should make it a point to touch base with everyone that is directly under your command or a part of your team at least once a day if at all possible. In this way, you will build the relationship and know their condition. This is an essential ingredient for servant-leadership.

Remember: the greatest Leader who ever lived said, “I came not to be served, but TO serve” and “He who would be greatest among you must become the servant of all…”


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4 Responses to Know the Condition of Your Flock

  1. Mary Pearson says:
    April 4, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Your new blog is medicine to my ears and eyes some days. Days when I need reminding of who I am and what I need to do I can always go to your blog and sure enough I can find something that hits home with me. Like the other day when you talked about knowing the condition of your flock. I had been so bogged down with things at work that I had missed several days of talking to each of my employees. Now I am back on track…

    Reply
  2. Franklin Smith says:
    April 7, 2010 at 9:01 pm

    Thank you for the reminder of this most powerful principle.

    Reply
  3. Polish the Tarnished Badge – Part 6: Enforce the Standard « Police Dynamics Media says:
    April 16, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    […] the individual dictate which option is chosen. This points us back to the leadership principle of knowing the condition of your flock. Without the foundation of internal trust-based relationships, this disciplinary model will not […]

    Reply
  4. Motivating Your Team | Police Dynamics – Character Based Policing says:
    February 24, 2012 at 11:26 am

    […] people and then try to meet those needs.  In addition, the leader must also use knowledge in the physiological makeup of people to assist in motivating others.  These needs that we need to consider in motivating others are: […]

    Reply

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