Leadership Model

At Element North, we believe the management models developed over the last century are insufficient to help leaders navigate growing speed and complexity in the world. There are now far too many variables to track and there is simply less that leaders can control. Indeed, the world is not out there waiting to be predicted; it is ours to create.

We developed the Element North Effectual Leadership Model to provide context and guidance in this new era of leadership. At its heart is the premise that the most effective leaders are those having the imagination to see a better future and the agility to move forward in a way that engages collective wisdom to limit the effects of unpredictability. This means creating bold aspirations, while trusting that the contributions of the many along the way will lead to richer outcomes than ever could have been imagined when the process began.

Our Effectual Leadership Model underpins our coaching and supports our leadership development programs. Rather than using it as a prescriptive or linear process, we weave it into the fabric of our work and hold it as a guide for charting the leadership path.

Aspire ASPIRE - Aspiration is typically thought of as vision, and involves a leader, ability to establish destination and context for the troops. Leaders must always propel an organization forward to new opportunities, and up to a larger cause. An important distinction is that the vision should be directional, not unmoving or absolute.
Align ALIGN - A key departure point from conventional leadership models, we view alignment as evolving. Rather than applying energy to securing all the resources we think we need to accomplish the task, we take stock of what we have and let that serve as our starting point. As we move forward, we constantly align next steps with what we have versus what we need, and communicate our progress throughout our organization to encourage buy-in and creativity.
Perform PERFORM - Leaders must deliver, not just to reach milestones but to engender trust. Performing is about delivering on promises, and involves establishing clear commitments, maintaining a culture of accountability and very high degrees of collaboration.
Inspire INSPIRE - This is the leader's ability to generate excitement, rally others around a common purpose, and identify opportunities that could not have been known earlier. Inspiration means portraying a compelling picture of the future and staying in the conversation with others. Ultimately new capabilities and opportunities will emerge from collaborators who are motivated to help shape and contribute to the cause.
Presence PRESENCE - The centerpiece and often least tangible element of our model, presence addresses the way a leader comes across in every touch point, enduring effect they have on others. Heavily informed by the principles of emotional intelligence and trust, presence is a function of a leader's sense of self and how that plays out in their interactions with others.