Mastering Leadership

Leadership is not just about charisma or gut feeling, it’s about strategic decision making and stewardship toward the fulfilment of a vision or purpose; it's about inspiring and enhancing the skills and capabilities of those around you as you mobilise toward the achievement of organisational goals.

These strategic decisions and stewardship have to be underpinned by data and evidence based methods if they are to truly succeed. Today, I’m going to take you on a journey through the essentials of mastering leadership development that’s backed by solid evidence. Ready to unlock your full potential? Let’s dive in.

What are the Evidence-Based Methods?

Imagine trying to navigate a ship through a storm and thick fog without essential instruments like a radio, compass or map. That’s what leadership without evidence feels like. You might have good instincts, but without data, credible frameworks and research to guide you, you risk steering off course, or worse, sinking your organisation.

Evidence-based methods provide that compass. They rely on scientific research, real-world data, and tested frameworks to help leaders make smarter, more effective decisions. For example, instead of guessing what motivates your team, you use credible assessments* to reveal what truly drives their behaviour. This means you can then tailor your approach to enhance collaboration and productivity, not just hope for the best.

Here are some of the evidence-based methods that top executive coaches provide to their CEO clients, across:-

• Strategic Decision-Making & Judgement Quality

  • Cynefin Framework (Snowden)

  • OODA Loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act)

  • Second-Order Thinking (Howard Marks)

  • Pre-Mortems (Gary Klein)

  • The Eisenhower Matrix

• Communication, Influence & Executive Presence

  • Adaptive Leadership (Heifetz & Linsky)

  • Mirroring & Labelling (Chris Voss)

  • Unconditional Positive Regard (Carl Rogers)

  • Crucial Conversations Framework

  • Nonviolent Communication (NVC – Rosenberg)

• Self-Leadership, Energy & Cognitive Performance

  • Vertical Leadership Development (Kegan & Lahey)

  • ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) for Leaders

  • Energy Management (Schwartz & Loehr)

  • Cognitive Reframing & CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Dispositional Mindfulness

• Organisational Execution & Results

  • OKRs (Objectives & Key Results)

  • Balanced Scorecard (Kaplan & Norton)

  • Systems Thinking (Senge)

  • The Mental Models, like First Principles Thinking (Charlie Munger)

  • SCARF Model (David Rock)

    
    

By integrating these methods, you’re not just leading, you’re leading with purpose and precision.

Leader using data to guide team decisions

Mastering the Evidence-Based Methods

To master these evidence-based methods, you need to know what they are, how and when to use them, and build enough positive reinforcement so they become habitual and the new default position.

Finally, you need consistent application and accountability from a reliable and impartial source, ideally a credible executive coach, who can help you to:

1. Use the best available evidence

   This means tapping into current research, case studies, and data analytics.

2. Apply critical thinking

   Question assumptions and evaluate the quality of evidence. Not all data is created equal.

3. Incorporate experience and expertise

   Your experience as a leader matters. Combine it with evidence to create a balanced approach.

4. Consider organisational and personal values and overarching purpose

   Every individual and organisation is different, aligning with values and purpose become the north-star and provide inspiration and motivation

5. Measure and evaluate outcomes

   Track progress and outcomes to see if the coaching methods are working. Use feedback and data to refine your approach continuously.

   
   

By following these principles with the assistance of an executive coach, you create a leadership development process that’s both scientific and human-centred.

How to Promote Evidence-Based Leadership?

Promoting evidence-based leadership isn’t just about adopting new tools, it’s about fostering a culture that values learning, curiosity, and accountability. Here’s how you can champion this approach in your organisation or team:

1. Lead by example

   Show your commitment to evidence-based practices by sharing research, data, and success stories. When your team sees you valuing facts over opinions, they’ll follow suit.

2. Provide training and resources

   Offer workshops, masterclasses, or access to research databases. Equip your leaders and teams with the knowledge and skills to apply evidence-based methods.

3. Encourage open dialogue

   Create safe spaces for questioning and discussing ideas. Encourage team members to challenge assumptions and bring data to the table.

4. Integrate evidence into decision-making processes

   Make it standard practice to review relevant data before making strategic decisions. Use tools like dashboards, analytics, and feedback surveys.

5. Celebrate wins and learn from failures

   Highlight successes and use evidence to identify areas for improvement. This reinforces the value of data-driven leadership.

By embedding these processes as non-negotiables, you’ll nurture a leadership culture that’s agile, informed, and resilient.

Team engaging in the Communication Excellence Masterclass

Unlocking the Power of Evidence-Based Leadership Development

When you commit to evidence-based leadership development, you’re investing in a future where leadership is smarter, more adaptive, and more impactful. This approach isn’t just a trend, it’s a proven pathway to unlocking potential at every level.

Remember, leadership is a journey, not a destination. By embracing evidence-based methods, you’re equipping yourself with the tools to navigate the journey with confidence and clarity.

So, what’s your next step? Dive into the research, experiment with evidence-based strategies, and keep your mind open to re-learning and hiring an executive coach. The results will speak for themselves. Also, consider TOMI's ATAR Program, an evidence based team coaching program that used the 12 Essential Skills Assessment (ESA) and the Communication Attributes Assessment (CAA) to target growth areas and achieve measurable results.

Mastering leadership is within your reach. With evidence as your guide and coaching as your vehicle, you’re set to transform not just your leadership style but the entire culture or your organisation.

Paul Pitsaras LL.B B.Int.Bus.

The Open Mind Institute

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*Credible Assessments include:-

• Big Five Personality Assessment 

• DISC Profiling

• Communication Archetypes Assessment (CAA)

• 12 Essential Skills Assessment (ESA)

• 360-Degree Feedback Assessments

• Organisational Diagnostics, like:

  • Culture assessments

  • Team effectiveness measures

  • Engagement surveys

  • Performance metrics alignment