The 5 Percent Tasks Only Leaders Can Do

In every organization, right from start-ups to large firms, there are certain exclusive tasks and responsibilities that only the leaders can perform well.

Now the tasks I am talking about, are not the typical daily operations and managerial duties which every manager or leader is expected to complete. Where I am focusing on, is actually some of the big decisions that leaders have to make like. Say for instance, bringing the team together, making work fun, encouraging creativity and even aiming at making our clients and vendors our long-term friends!

While these fall under the ‘5 percent tasks’ domain, they can actually help us achieve 95% results if performed well.

So let’s identify some of these 5 percent tasks and explore their impact on a leader’s success.

The Biggest Decision

I think at the core of leadership is the leaders ability to set a compelling future vision and the reason to exist for the organization.

This task will also include defining the long-term goals and objectives that guide decision-making and inspire its people to take appropriate action across the organization.

A leader’s vision provides clarity about the direction in which the organization and its people are going. It also helps the team members to understand why it is important to put all the efforts towards a common purpose.

Importance of Vision:

Guiding the way: I think a clear vision helps in designing clear plans and initiatives. It also acts as a goal post for driving the resources and investments in the areas that help reach the long-term goals of the company.
Juicing up the People: People get engaged and energised when they understand how their hard work leads to achieving the company vision and thus their personal goals and vision. They start to feel the company is theirs.
Adaptability: A clear future picture of the company serves as a compass and allows it to adapt to the ups and downs of the environment while staying true to its core values and objectives.

I remember that until we did not have a clear vision we were taking up everything and anything that used to come our way from new clients. When our vision and purpose became clear, we started taking up only those leads and assignments that helped us move towards our goals and vision.

Planned Decision Making

All leaders have to make decisions and which impact the overall direction and success of the organization. They have to often walk on a tight rope while making these decisions and have to consider complex trade-offs across the financial, operational, and cultural factors of the business.

Characteristics of Planned Decision Making

Long-term Impact: I believe that planned decisions have to be made after considering not only their short term but also their long-term implications on the organization’s growth and sustainability.
Managing Risk: Leaders have the tough task of assessing and mitigating risks and uncertainties associated with different actions they can take as they have to balance between rewards with pitfalls.
Resource Allocation: Planned decision making often involves prioritizing investments and allocating resources effectively based on the organizations priorities and objectives.

We chose to hire a full-time Content Specialist instead of a sales professional for our organization. In today’s landscape, a strong social media and search presence is crucial, often outweighing the traditional cold calling and sales hunting methods.

Uplifting The Team

Uplifting the team - 5 percent Leadership Tasks

Leaders have to play a crucial role in building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of collaboration, trust, and innovation. This work involves the difficult task of recruiting the right talent, developing their skills, and empowering them to reach their maximum potential.

Key Elements of Team Building

Getting the right One for the right Job: Leaders are involved in identifying and attracting individuals who possess the skills, experience, and values that align with the organization’s culture and goals.
Developing and Coaching: They have to provide mentorship and development opportunities to help team members grow professionally and enhance their capabilities.
Culture and Engagement: Leaders also have to nurture a positive work environment where team members feel valued, motivated, and committed to achieving collective goals.

We regularly nominate our team members for developmental workshops even though we are a training company. We also ask non training members to join us for our client programs as support staff as we realised that it helps them develop, improves their personal lives and keeps them engaged.

Allowing Conscious Mistakes

In a dynamic business environment where trends and products change faster than minutes of a clock, leaders are responsible for driving innovation and embracing change to maintain competitiveness and drive growth. If they encourage making mistakes and experimentation, it fosters creativity and innovation and helps in seizing opportunities and overcome challenges.

Role of Innovation

Adapting to Market Changes: Leaders identify emerging trends and technological advancements that present opportunities for innovation and business expansion.
Encouraging Risk-taking: They create a culture that encourages calculated risk-taking and learning from failures as part of the innovation process. People are not punished for failures as they are seen as experiments and innovation.
Continuous Improvement: Leaders promote continuous improvement and efficiency gains through regular reflections, evaluations and process optimization.

We always encourage all of our employees to not get embarrassed from making mistakes and to learn as many lessons as they can from it. This allows them to think creatively and to try out new things without any hesitation.

Managing the Breadwinners and Guests

Leaders being the face of the organization are responsible for managing relationships with clients, partners, investors, regulators, and the community at large. This step helps enhance the organization’s reputation, builds trust, and creates opportunities for collaboration and growth.

How to Manage them Well

Relationship Building: Leaders cultivate relationships based on transparency, integrity, mutual respect and a win-win mindset with multiple stakeholders to build long-term partnerships.
Communication and Advocacy: They communicate the organization’s larger picture, values, and achievements to external audiences in a simple and profound way which helps in advocating for its interests and addressing concerns.
Managing Crises: Leaders navigate crises and unforeseen challenges by proactively addressing issues, taking responsibility and ownership for mistakes, managing reputational risks, and maintaining stakeholder confidence.

Meeting multiple external stakeholders for lunch or dinner and keeping in touch with them even though we do not work with them anymore is one practice we have kept constant over many years. The reason being, for us it’s not just business, it’s the relationships with people which matters and we value it the most.

Conclusion about Leadership Tasks

In conclusion, the “5 percent tasks” exclusive to leaders are critical to the success and sustainability of organizations. These can help the leader achieve 95 % success.

Drawing the bigger picture, making strategic decisions, fostering team unity, promoting experimentation, managing external relations, and achieving long-term goals for the organization.

I think Leadership is not just about authority or decision-making power; it is about inspiring others, fostering collaboration, and steering the organization towards greatness.

By embracing these responsibilities with vision, integrity, and excellence, leaders can guide their organizations through challenges and seize growth opportunities.

As organizations evolve, leaders play a crucial role in guiding and empowering their teams. By fulfilling these essential tasks with dedication and foresight, they create lasting impacts that shape industries and communities.

Author – Ambrish Pandya

Ambrish is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience spanning Learning & Development, Banking, BPO, Insurance, and Pharma, highlighted by key roles at organizations like Mafoi Management Consultants, JP Morgan, and Citibank, and founder of ‘The Yellow Spot’ focusing on facilitation, coaching, content design, client relationship management, consulting, and sales.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambrish-pandya-38a0876/

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