On a flight this morning I read a comment from Michael Hill where he says that good business people know “what’s happening in the most distant, least noticed sector of the company.” This really resonated with me because I see too many leaders leading from mission control. Sometimes in my work I talk about learning walks, or leadership by walking about. These are not new concepts. They are based on the need for leaders to be visible and to be where the action is. This involves entering in dialogue with staff about the key purpose of the organisation – listening, watching, inquiring, knowing.

Mission control leaders see things from their desks. They have not developed peripheral vision. They have abdicated responsibility to others. They rely on others to keep them up to date, receiving information about the organisation from second hand sources.

Visible leaders walk the floors and walk the talk. They understand what their business is about and seek to find out first hand what is happening. They talk to people throughout their organisation, not just those who report to them. They model from an ethical base rather than tripping over their egos.