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Generational Leadership...Setting the Pace to Lead in Any Environment

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Chief Walter Distelzweig and Lisa Distelzweig, Columbus Police Department and Franklin County Children Services
July 2010

Abstract
"Ninety percent of leadership is working with people, human nature, and all of its vast issues," shares Chief Walter Distelzweig.  This realization is what has transformed the concept of leadership across the generations.  It doesn’t make any difference where you work or in what sector of business – everyone deals with people – employees, clients, and peers.

Transforming our own leadership style begins with recognizing the value of our relationships and understanding that in order for our organizations to grow, we, as individuals, must grow, and we must create an environment in which our people can grow.  It is a legacy you leave behind and one which people will discuss.

The objectives of leading an organization are to accomplish the mission, gain the trust of our clients, and engage our employees. The objective of leadership is to make a difference.  Leadership is an attitude. You have to work at developing leadership and transforming it.  Yes, it takes time, but if we seize every opportunity to learn in everyday leadership moments, and live by our core values and principles, we can build a successful leadership legacy.  

Basically, "It is about a lifetime of learning to lead and making good choices," Lisa shares.  The leadership moments and opportunities may surprise you.  Lessons do not begin in the first few years of your career; learning to lead begins at a much younger age.  In kindergarten you may have been a line leader, or in middle school, you may have been the captain of a sports team.  At university, you may learn by developing and volunteering with a student organization or becoming a positive role model for younger students.  These foundational experiences prepare you for more mature leadership experiences as you enter the business sector.

Chief Distelzweig expands the concept. There is a definite transition between a child's or a young adult's leadership experiences  and those of a career-oriented professional; the focus narrows from what can I do to further a goal and create value to how can I engage my team to work together to further a goal and create value?  It is one of the most difficult lessons to learn.  Look at leadership through the ages and how many years it has taken for the whole leadership concept to change from an autocratic style to a participative style, one that values the strengths and differences that each team member can contribute, and one in which communication and relationships are promoted? 

So, day to day, your leadership style is going to change, and hopefully grow stronger, your difference more positive.  There is no one moment where you can say, "Now, today, I am a leader."  Leadership is a transformation of character, attitude, and behavior.  It’s a lifetime of building - that's why it is leadership across the generations and a legacy.

APA Citation
Distelzweig, L., & Distelzweig, W. (2010, July). “Generational leadership: Setting the pace to lead in any environment.” Franklin University Hall Leadership Lessons. Columbus, OH.

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