美国企业的未来很大程度上取决于公司管理层的思想、动机和理念。无论你是基层经理、总监、运营官还是首席执行官——2012对美国经济来说都是决定性的一年。是否愿意亲身实践，将直接关系到你的职场领导力水平。
整个世界都看到了美国经济秩序遭到的持续破坏，因为我们的管理者拒绝面对真正的问题，对松垮的员工士气不予理会，不关心客服质量和客户信任度的下降，不担心美国的竞争力在全球竞争中已经连续3年下滑。美国光芒的逐渐暗淡并非偶然，而是对身居管理岗位的这些人行为的一种反馈。到时候，美国一定需要借助辛勤工作以外的方法刺激经济回升，而2012年好多事情必须由管理者去亲身实践。
管理者必须后退一步，更全面地认识自己的角色和应该担负的责任。领导力不仅体现在公司是否盈利，更体现在身为管理者，他们的决定、态度和声誉是如何影响周围人的（这才是真正的盈利，却最容易被管理者们疏忽）。领导力是管理者的亲自躬行，是他们亲自插手现在的业务，因为如今这些业务与他们最后一次见客户、最后一次参加物流会议、最后一次参与市场讨论，以及最后一次销售产品时已经大相径庭了。
2011年的动荡不仅不容忽视，而且必须直接面对。时代已经不同了，当代管理者必须尽快遵从全球市场的基本法则。过去，管理者可以很轻易地把最重要的问题委派给手下的员工——自己则可以轻松逃离棘手的麻烦。但是，现在的市场与以往不同，管理者不可能再逃避问题了。市场迫使管理者必须直接面对那些可能影响客户关系或员工福祉的问题。
2012年，管理者指派的工作越多，公司实力会越弱和越不稳定。其实，经常活跃于股市的人更要多观察所买股票的公司管理者的领导力究竟如何。如果哪些领导者确实亲自参与公司事务的实践——那么买这支股票的风险便减小了很多，同时回报也更多、更持久。
以下是可以让管理者更有效地参与公司事务和处理客户关系的5种方法：
1. 重建信任，赢得合作
不要再认为自己是管理者，别人就会信任你。在大多数情况下，这一点恰好相反。好好做人，让其他人走进你的内心。坦诚待人，修炼自己的亲和力。高处不胜寒是你的过错，而非他人的责任。
2. 与他人分享你的观点
员工都想知道自己的领导到底是怎么想的。不要再隐藏自己的看法，加入到员工的讨论中，并与他们分享你的观点，不久你就会发现自己的想法给周围人带来了多大的启发和进步。
3. 重操旧业，亲自插手业务
投入成本，只为与员工、客户和整个行业重新建立连接。管理者容易在办公室政治中迷失自己，忘记他们最终服务的对象应该是谁。不要忘记：一旦你不再插手业务，业务便开始操控你，你与业务之间的联系也会荡然无存。
4. 寻求帮助，从公司内部获得成长
不要以为你是领导就无所不知。我认识的许多财富500强公司的管理者，他们宁愿借助书本寻找问题的答案，也不向周围一起工作的同事请教。使用他人的智慧对自身的提高非常重要——但是作为公司的管理者，自身的成长需要同事的帮助。自负非但不会让自己与公司的关系更近，反而只会让自己与公司更加疏远。
5. 展现你的创造力，加入到基层工作中
员工都希望自己的领导具有创新意识。返回到基层工作中去，让员工们在这里也能看到你的创造力。管理者要多行动少观察，因为行动本身就是最有力的观察。
最出色的管理者往往是亲身实践者，2012年，这也是对管理者的一个要求。不要自私地总想把自己的工作推得干干净净，不要等着、看着问题由员工来解决，而是要参与到工作之中，亲身实践。坦诚一点，做出改变，立马你就会发现自己带来的影响。
The future of American enterprise is heavily dependent upon the mindset, motivation and desire of its leaders. Whether you are a front line manager, director, executive or in the c-suite – 2012 is a defining year for America’s economy. Your commitment to get your “hands dirty” is inextricably linked to the increased performance of workplace leadership.
The world is watching the continuous disruption of our economic order as our leaders resist confronting the real problems that are impacting employee morale & engagement, reductions in customer service ratings & trust and America’s three year decline in global competitiveness. Diminishing performance is no accident. It’s a function of how people respond to their leaders. At a time when America needs to find new ways to reboot its momentum that requires more than just hard work; leaders must get their hands dirty in 2012.
Leaders must step-back and finally accept the bigger picture of their role and responsibilities. Leadership is not only just about the bottom line, but how their decisions, attitudes and reputation – impact the people around them (the real bottom line that most leaders ignore). It’s about leaders getting their hands dirty and touching the business that has changed radically since the last time they met with a client, participated in a logistics meeting, contributed to a marketing discussion and/or the last time they sold something.
The volatility of 2011 can’t be ignored and must be faced head-on. Times have changed and leaders must now rapidly comply with the new ground rules that the global market has placed upon them. In the past, it was easy for a leader to delegate major problems to his staff – so as not to place himself in a vulnerable position. But in today’s marketplace, leaders can no longer run and hide. The marketplace requires leaders to confront issues that can potentially ruin a client relationship and the livelihood of their employees.
The more problems leaders delegate in 2012, the weaker and more volatile their organizations become. In fact, if you are active in the stock-market, pay close attention to the leadership for those companies that you are investing in. If they are touching the business and getting their hands dirty – your investment risk is much lower and the rewards much greater and sustainable.
Here are five ways that leaders can get smarter about how to touch the business and people they serve:
1. Re-Build Trust & Earn Relationships
Don’t assume people trust you just because you are in-charge. In most cases it’s the opposite. Be human and allow people inside of your domain. Encourage transparent interaction and make yourself approachable. Getting lonely at the top is your fault, not the responsibility of others.
2. Share your Points of View
People want to know what their leaders are really thinking. Stop hiding and get involved in the conversation of others and share your points of view. You never know when your voice can make an enlightening impact to advance those around you.
3. Reconnect Yourself with the Business
Invest in reconnecting with your employees, your clients and your industry. Leaders get lost in office politics and forget about who they should be ultimately serving. Don’t forget: the day you stop touching the business is the day the business begins to manage you and your relevancy vanishes.
4. Ask for Help and find Growth from Within your Organization
Just because you are the leader, it doesn’t mean you know all of the answers. I’ve met so many Fortune 500 leaders who would rather read a book to help them solve their problems, rather than asking for help from the people with whom they work with. Using other people’s wisdom is important in developing your perspectives – but growing as a leader in your own organization requires you to ask for help from your colleagues. Your ego only removes you farther away, not closer to your organization.
5. Showcase your creativity and get involved on the front lines
People expect their leaders to be innovative. Get back in the game by allowing others to see your creativity in action on the front lines. Leaders need to do more and observe less. Action is observation in full motion.
The best leaders get their hands dirty and in 2012 it is a requirement. Don’t be selfish and wash your hands clean. Don’t wait to solve the problems in front of you. Get involved and stay active. Be transparent, make a difference and watch the immediate impact you can organically create.
