About

The story of the colorful sheep began in late 2023 during preparations for a workshop about leadership. The sheep is originally known as "ColorSheep", but is often also called "Leadersheep", which is a playful reference to its initial context. Since then, the sheep with its colored coat has come to represent the wide range and diversity of skills that leaders must develop and combine in order to be truly effective.

A deeper understanding of the correct choice, as well as the appropriate use and intensity of the developed skills, is particularly important. When collaborating with others, individual characteristics and experiences determine people’s behavior and actions. This also leads to different needs regarding personal interaction and the nature of interpersonal relationships.

A true leader recognizes these nuances, can modulate skills, and knows how to play the scales, because individual circumstances (prerequisites and conditions) are always different. Finding the right mix and balance is key to building mutual trust when interacting with others, because clarity and trust are crucial in an increasingly complex and challenging world.

With that in mind, consider the following points as food for thought:

• Set boundaries to establish the dos and don’ts, as everyone has different notions.
• Work on yourself and start leading yourself before you lead others. Involve team members, change step by step, and never stop improving.
• Be a teacher and coach to guide others and let them develop the best way to do their tasks instead of telling them what to do.
• Set the direction and provide a clear and solid foundation or framework to avoid any ambiguity.
• Share your knowledge and let others benefit from your experience, because sharing is caring, and taking care of others is also a privilege. So, be the senior you needed when you were a junior.
• Create a vision, or at least a strong belief, because why and what you do matter, and it is important for everyone on your team to buy into the idea. Adopt a “doing the right thing” attitude that provides a greater benefit to more people than just yourself.
• Encourage leadership at all levels and foster trust to empower those who take initiative and act appropriately. Build a culture rooted in human connection and characterized by vulnerability, empathy, and compassion (emotional intelligence).
• Nurture motivation and growth with appropriate tools and techniques, and celebrate both the effort toward growth and the achievements that come with it. You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.
• Admit when you are wrong and show your human side, because there is no need to sweep your mistakes under the rug.
• Connect people and break down silo mentality by bridging connections inside and outside the team to improve collaboration.
• Lead by example and practice what you preach, because others are looking up to you and observing your actions and behaviors. Be mindful and aware of what you demonstrate, but do not hesitate or constantly second-guess yourself.
• Desire (reward and recognition) and fear (punishment) as external motivators are not sustainable, because only intrinsic motivation can offer the greatest and most sustainable benefits in terms of performance and happiness. It is all about finding your inner "why".
  • Why am I doing this?
  • What values or goals does this satisfy?
  • Am I worried about saving face?
  • How is this impacting my experience and approach?
• Be prepared for a long journey and bring patience and stamina with you. Anticipate challenges and have realistic expectations and timelines.
• Address the elephant in the room and do not tiptoe around controversial issues. It is essential to be straightforward, even if the facts are unpleasant.
• Help your team overcome fear by being a mentor and addressing the issues they are grappling with, which impact their success and productivity.
• Improve the system and constantly focus on its further development to ensure a smooth path for your team to perform at their best:
  • Prepare the stage for others to shine.
  • Manage the system, not the people.
  • Work on the system, not just in the system.

The essence of leadership can be distilled into the following definition.

Leadership is action and attitude, not position.