It Takes A Leader

It Takes A Leader
Mark Miles
President & CEO, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Inc.
SKL VI
 
In Indianapolis, we pride ourselves on collaboration – working together to do great things.  The collective efforts of civic leaders, partnerships between the public and private sectors, and the spirit of volunteerism that’s so alive in our community have been essential ingredients in our transformation from Indy-a-no-place to a world-class city.
 
I think about my experience leading two major sports events here, a quarter-century apart – the Pan-American Games in 1987, and Super Bowl XLVI coming up next year.  Both endeavors involved the commitment of elected officials, the backing of the business community, and the hard work of thousands of volunteers.
 
In my ‘day job’ as President of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, I focus on pursuing new opportunities for our region.  Whether it’s advocating progressive education policies or local government reforms, or moving forward on a regional mass transit plan, these projects demand consensus-building among business leaders, policymakers, and opinion leaders of all sorts.
 
But my topic today isn’t teamwork, it’s leadership.  I’d argue that it takes a strong leader to bring people together, to orchestrate teamwork and truly make things happen.  Someone always starts with the ‘big idea,’ a vision that animates the effort…and you can’t craft a vision by committee.
 
Here are a few of the qualities that I believe are critical in a leader who can bring their vision to life:
 
It starts with passion.  A leader has to be the most committed person in the room, with the enthusiasm and drive to inspire others to get involved. 
 
But passion can melt away under pressure if it isn’t paired with tenacity.  You have to start with the willingness to see things through, to keep moving forward even when the going gets tough. 
 
While passion and tenacity can carry you a long way, they’re no substitute for a plan.  It’s critical that a leader have a proactive strategy for success, anticipating challenges, objections and unintended consequences.  In a game of chess, the player who can think ahead the most moves typically wins. 
 
Even the best-laid plans rarely go off without a hitch, and so, a leader must be prepared to take risks and have the courage to face criticism.  Leaders by definition are advocates of change, and the status quo always has fierce defenders.
 
Successful leadership is purpose-driven, not ego-driven.   The threat of failure can be borne by a leader because their focus is on the cause, not themselves.  
 
Putting your ego aside and focusing on success also means building the best team possible.  The goal isn’t to be the smartest person in the group – the goal is to enlist the most talented people and manage their efforts effectively.
 
Finally, leadership takes communication.  Speak honestly and frankly with your team, and demand that they do the same with you.  Reward their candor by listening and giving thoughtful consideration to their counsel.  And as a leader, be prepared to convey your vision simply and powerfully: If you can’t describe what you want to accomplish, then it can’t be done.
 
Leadership means believing in your ideas, believing in yourself, and being willing to roll up your sleeves and commit to hard work.  Great things are rarely accomplished by one person alone – but they never start without one. 
 
Mark Miles is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), a regional alliance of corporate CEOs and university presidents focused on long-term growth and economic development throughout the Central Indiana region. CICP develops and advocates pro-growth policies and works with public and private sector partners to help the region capitalize on new economic opportunities.   CICP also serves as the parent organization to industry initiatives that include BioCrossroads, TechPoint, Conexus Indiana, and Energy Systems Network, as well as the Indy Partnership focused on regional marketing and business attraction.
 
Miles also serves as Chairman of the Indianapolis 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee Board of Directors.  In May 2008, he led a successful effort to earn Indianapolis the right to host the 2012 Super Bowl, awarded by a vote of the NFL’s 32 team owners.  An Indianapolis native, returned to the region after a 15-year tenure as CEO of the ATP Tour, the world wide men’s professional tennis circuit, based in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
 

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