“Management is about persuading people to do things they do not want to do. Leadership is about inspiring people to do things they never thought they could.” – Steve Jobs

After leading a strategic planning retreat, I had a great conversation with some leaders about how you can be a “transformational” leader and still drive the results you need.

It’s a great question. To be transformational, you must care more about the success of your people than your success as a leader. But if you are not successful as a leader, you will probably be out of a job and so will those you lead.

So, how can a leader get the results the organization needs while focusing on the success of those they lead?

The Right People in the Right Seats

Each seat in your organization should have measurable outcomes or key performance indicators tied to the position. These KPIs define success for that position.

Share this information with everyone you interview for the position. You should be interviewing them for the skills and character traits required to excel at that position. You should also determine how this position will fit into the applicant's greater career goals. Is this the end all, be all position for them or a step in their greater career path?

If it is a step, how will this position help them reach the next rung on their career path? That is how you sell a job to an A player, by showing them how this position will further their greater career goals.

As your new recruit accomplishes the goals for this position, they will be accomplishing key milestones on their career journey.

By hiring well, success for the firm is also success for the individual. It’s a win-win. When the team member and the organization are both winning, you have the alignment required to move fast and get great results.