Leadership is an Art - Reviewing Performance

The book Leadership is an Art by Max De Pree, is the single book that has had profound influence on my leadership style. I'm fortunate enough to lead some of the most outstanding and humble folks and the ideas of the book has helped me to make a small difference in their lives. I'll share key concepts of the book in a few posts.

Reviewing performance is a time like that, a time to ask what we are trying to do, evaluate how we are doing, and then ask "What's next?". Both the people and the process should be directed towards reaching human potential.

Simply asking questions is another important part of performance reviews. Asking the right questions is a knack that needs working on. Here are some questions:

• Would you be willing to share your philosophy of management with your work team?
• What do you want to do (be)? What are you planning to do about it?
• Who are you? How do you see yourself personally, professionally and organizationally?
• Does need you?
• Do you need ?
• If you were in "my shoes", what one key area or matter you focus on?
• What significant areas are there in the company where you feel you can make a contribution but feel you cannot get a hearing?
• What have you abandoned?
• Do you have any feelings of failure in any particular area?
• What will you do to in the coming year to develop your three highest-potential persons (and who are they)?
• What are the three signals of impending entropy you see? What are you doing about it?

"Leaders, in a special way, are liable for what happens in the future, rather than what is happening day to day".