Successful Leaders Need More Than a 'Git-R-Done' Attitude

Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt of From Bud to Boss: Secrets to a Successful Transition to Remarkable Leadership (Wiley, 2011).

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You are probably good at getting things done—on your own. In fact, your ability to get things done probably figured heavily in your promotion to leadership. And now you find yourself needing a whole different set of skills—the skills of getting things done through other people. How you accomplish these tasks determines the mark you leave as a leader.

In Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality, Dr. Henry Cloud writes about a concept that he calls ''the wake'' with regard to how leaders impact their organizations. In his description of the wake, he compares leaders in organizations to boats moving through the water. Because of Guy's background and experience, this particular analogy struck him with both its simplicity and its elegance. So we share the general concept with you here in the hope that it gives you a powerful mental picture to guide you in your transition to leadership.