Chapter 6 of The Leadership Challenge is titled Enlist Others. Enlist others is the fourth commitment of Leadership. First you are shown that leaders must get their constituents to accept the leaders vision as their own. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech at Lincolm Memorial is used as an example of getting others to accept the leaders vision a their own.

Oratory skills are the subject of the next section in this chapter. Kouzes and Posner tell you that being an orator is not about flash and sizzle. Instead they suggest you develop three skills in yourself:

  • Listen deeply to others.
  • Discover and appeal to a common purpose.
  • Give life to a vision by communicating expressively, so that people can see themselves in it.

    • The end of the chapter is the details of commitment 4. You are urged to get to know your constituents and find out what they like and don’t like. In finding the common ground it’s suggested that you work shoulder to shoulder with your constituents. In draft a collective vision statement you work involve your constituents in the vision process. Expanding your communications skills is critical to being a leader. Being able to express yourself and make yourself understood is a key skill for anybody. Then you breathe life into your vision by using as many forms of expression as possible. When you speak from the heart, your constituents will hear your belief and want to become involved. When you listen first and often, conversations will open up and your constituents will know that you care about them. Finally when you hang out, you gather that all important feedback about the health of your vision.

    Visit my past articles on The Leadership Challenge:
    How to Lead.
    Envision the Future.

    Books mentioned in this post:

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