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Becoming a Results-Based Leader

January 30, 2001

1. "Begin with an absolute focus on results.
2. Take complete and personal responsibility for your group's results.
3. Clearly and specifically communicate expectations and targets to the people in your group.
4. Determine what you need to do personally to improve your results.
5. Use results as the litmus test for continuing or implementing leadership practice.
6. Engage in developmental activities and opportunities that will help you produce better results.
7. Know and use every group member's capabilities to the fullest and provide everyone with appropriate developmental activities.
8. Experiment and innovate in every realm under your influence, looking constantly for new ways to improve performance.
9. Measure the right standards and increase the rigor with which you measure them.
10. Constantly take action; results won't improve without it.
11. Increase the pace or tempo of your group.
12. Seek feedback from others in the organization about ways you and your group can improve your outcomes.
13. Ensure that your subordinates and colleagues perceive that your motivation for being a leader is the achievement of positive results, not personal or political gain.
14. Model the methods and strive for the results you want your group to use and attain (Ulrich, Zenger and Smallwood, 1999, p.170)."

Reference:  Ulrich, D.; Zenger, J.; & Smallwood, N. (1999).  Results-based leadership.
Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

Do you have what it takes to be a results-based leader?

* Results-Based Leadership is available on loan at the OSU Leadership Center.  A listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~leaders

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Created: 2009-01-02, Updated: 2009-01-15