What is Prime Leadership

1. Prime Leaders see and act on the world in ways that set them apart
from others in the business world. Prime Leaders:
• See opportunity where others see obstacles;
• See solutions where others see problems;
• Have confidence when others have doubts;
• Have resolve when others waver;
• Are disciplined when others are lax;
• Stay calm when others panic;
• Have hope when others lose faith;
• And, ultimately, see possibility where others see none.
Prime Leaders also behave in a way that clearly demonstrates their leadership
capabilities. First, they affirm their leadership by making clear who was in charge, what
messages will be communicated, and their commitment to those messages. At the same
time, they are open to others' ideas and are willing to adapt when presented with a
compelling reason to do so. Second, Prime Leaders set the psychology of their
organization, ensuring that it is positive, proactive and focused. Third, they actively
create a culture of integrity, openness and determination that permeates throughout their
company.
Prime Leaders inspire others to aim high by convincing them that they can take control of
their careers and achieve their professional goals. They convince their teams that what
seems inconceivable or insurmountable can become a reality; in other words, if Prime
Leaders can move mountains, so can others. The messages of possibility and personal
empowerment from Prime Leaders motivate employees to take their performances and
productivity to new levels and propel their companies to new heights.
Prime Leaders demonstrate that a group of individuals with a shared vision can coalesce
into a formidable force. Their lives and their words can inspire people to achieve
seemingly impossible goals. But, despite what many people think, inspiration is not the
greatest gift of Prime Leaders. Their real strengths are not only to inspire, but also to
inform and transform. Prime Leaders give people the information and tools they need to
focus and direct their inspiration. And then they transform that inspiration and
information into action that produces tangible results.
A Prime Leader's confident, calm and commanding presence in these difficult times can
inspire trust that they have the company's -- and its employees' -- best interests at heart.
This style of corporate leadership that is authoritative yet empathic and trustworthy can
reduce the flames of conflict and encourage those with different ideas to be open to
others' viewpoints and be willing to find compromise for the good of the individual and
the company. Prime Leaders' noted respect for diverse viewpoints and willingness to
listen to others can also encourage "buy-in" from those less inclined to do so.

2. Perhaps the greatest challenge for any business leader is to forge a sense of unity, where
perhaps others have tried and failed, in a corporate culture that can have many divergent
views and factions. Can they inspire, inform, and transform those who have fundamental
disagreements with them? To do so, they must to marshal all of their leadership skills. In
this time of crisis, their oratory gifts can inspire employees to set aside small concerns
and work together to overcome the current marketplace challenges. This ability involves
framing divisive issues in terms that transcend specific ideologies and focus on larger
universal themes. The ability to inspire employees, rally them around a shared cause,
demonstrate respect for all perspectives and find common ground is an essential skill for
providing leadership to a successful company.
In the current business climate in which we are seeing even the best-run companies
struggle under the weight of the still-fresh global economic crisis, there are profound
lessons to be learned from studying Prime Leader capabilities. By applying these skills
and strategies to your work, you can create your own Prime Leadership experience that
can help you and your company to achieve its goals.
S. W. Sugulas, HBS